My, how time flies.

It's been three weeks since my last post. This weekend Kim and I celebrated 34 years of marriage. It really doesn't seem that long. Whitney should be delivering grandson #2 (Rider), within the next couple of weeks. I rode to Ft. Davis in the Davis mountains and spent the weekend last week.

Ft. Davis is 337 miles from here, most of it thru flat hot west Texas. My neighbor, Ben, and I left at about 3:00 a.m. Saturday and rode thru the night to miss the hot part of the day. Sunrise found us headed south on Hwy 118 with the mountains barely discernible on the southern and western horizon. In less than two hours of straight dessert riding we found ourselves in the midst of breathtaking granite mountains. There was a sweet smell in the air that I could not identify, but I would like to stay there just to enjoy that aroma. I was reminded of the line from "Wild Hogs" where William Macy's character describes John Travolta's cologne as a smell between a lawyer and a cowboy. It didn't smell like that, I was just reminded of the line because I do not have the words to describe it.

This is a picture from atop the mountain in Ft. Davis State Park. Man, that's a good looking motorcycle. I packed a lot of stuff, as this was my first camping adventure. I learned a lot about what I need to take, and just as important what I don't need to take.

We rode to an observation site that was built for viewing the Marfa lights, on Saturday which is where the sunset pictured below was taken. The lights did not appear for us that night, but it was a good ride and the facilities were awesome. I recommend you take your own chair if you go.

There will definitely have to be another trip as we did not get to go to the McDonald Observatory due to weather, and I have to give the Marfa lights another chance.

Sunday morning broke early, and I rode to the mountain top alone to be with the Father. I enjoyed a quiet time of reflection and meditation. Basically I stood amazed and humbled at the beauty that God had created, and gave thanks. This was also Father's day. I was wishing my family could see what I see, and feel what I feel in that moment. Four years ago I was at risk of losing both my family and my life. But a loving and all powerful God heard my prayers and those of my wife and freed my from the bonds of my addiction. One week from today I will have been sober for 4 years. Thank you, Jesus.

All in all, it was a good Fathers day. Keep the shiny side up.

Wooo Hooo, I struck it rich

This has been a weird week. Except for anger, selfishness, and being judgemental, I was pretty well behaved. I have to really look at the things that frustrate and anger me, because I believe that these things must live inside of me as well. Before I became self aware it was ok to be angry, selfish and judgemental, because I was always right, or in the right. Now I must look thru the lens of "if you spot it you got it", and that sucks.

There are untold numbers of paths to poverty, death, and destruction; all of them paved ever so nicely with good intentions and incorrect knowledge. We must always be willing to unlearn things that are not true, before we are able to learn. Proverbs 27:22 tells me that you cannot remove folly from a fool. I suppose a fool is someone who is unwilling to learn and therefore unteachable. I've been foolish many times, though hopefully not for too long.

On my desk lies a counterfeit 5 dollar bill, that was given to me Tuesday by one of my customers. I obviously did not know it was fake until later in the day when I had time to sort my money. So there I was sorting by denominations and this one bill stands out amongst its brethren as odd. Upon realization the thinking process begins: Who gave this to me? Did they do it on purpose? What should I do with it? Should I turn it in with my deposit to the company and let them take the loss? Should I pass it in change to an unsuspecting customer who is not my favorite? Should I pass it at a store to a young clerk who is easily tricked? Should I call the police and turn it in?

I looked back over all of the customers who could have been guilty, and decided the ones most likely to have passed it probably did not know it was fake. These people would not intentionally do that to me. If I passed it on to the company or someone else, I would be not only stealing, but committing a federal crime. More importantly it would be wrong and I would know it. It's only five dollars, but five dollars can make an important difference in some one's life.

My self esteem, integrity, honor, and my soul is not for sale for 5 dollars. I will not carry the shame of intentionally hurting someone else. Monday I will turn the bill over to the police because it is the right thing to do. I can afford to do this because I am rich. All of my bills are paid and there is money in my pocket. More importantly I have a family who loves me, and friends who love me. And I can love me because a merciful God loved me first and forgives me always: and gives me wisdom to do the right thing and become a man of integrity.

It has been 3 years, 11 months, and 1 day since my last drink. My how time flies when you are doing the next right thing.

Keep the shiny side up.