Saturday, July 5, 2008

Day 19, Rest Day in Casper, WY, July 4

One of our riders, Paul, was left behind in a hospital a few days ago but is back with us now. Tracy is back from the ER, Norman survived a crash within a couple miles of the hotel on Thursday, Jim hopes to ride Saturday after three days out, David has back spasms, and a number of people are suffering from altitude sickness. Whew! We all enjoyed a day off here in Casper!

I slept, did laundry, cleaned and oiled my bike, and had a long quiet and reading time. Over 1500 miles ridden and I feel very contented. Even soreness, altitude headaches, sunburn or weight loss has no negative effect on my spiritual condition!

Physical and mental exhaustion need not take away your peace and contentment when you feel God’s presence. In fact, it may increase because you depend on Him more and yourself less.

I see how Paul felt in his letter to the Philippians. Here is what Paul had to say in verses 4:10-14 taken from The Message: “I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess--happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me--it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.”

Contented in Christ,
Tom

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