Happy Thanksgiving CCS.

[chaplain220]

This is my teamate Eddie. He is experiencing an encounter with pavement. It appears to be painful and with some lasting effects at least to his bike, and probably to his body, but he will not realize that till he hits 40.



Pavement is hard, unyielding and can grind away bodies and machinery on contact. When things are going good, no one really cares about pavement, it's just there, and we glide across it, hitting the occasional pot hole, but pressing on.

But there comes the hard times, when it seems our world has crashed and we are grinding along the ground. Where every day can seem abrasive and damaging. When you are down on the pavement, you realize how very hard and gray it is, that's the way our days can become during a painful trial, and sometimes it seems like there is no hope in sight.

For many of our bros the night before thanksgiving is a night to get the beer flowing, cause Thanksgiving day is gonna bring some painful emotions and stress.  I think the reason emotions hit us so hard on Thanksgiving and Christmas is because they represent what should be the best of times, but our circumstances, unmet expectations...and failures, tend to point out everything that is not what we hoped it would be.  I know some of you right now are looking at Thanksgiving, and sayin, "thankful for what?"  With the marriage broken, the kids are split up, the girlfriend left, the job is a struggle with no real financial gain in sight??!  It's like grinding down that pavement, not really in control, it's hard, things are getting more broken, and it hurts.

But there is hope. To realize that God intimately understands our suffering, knows right where we are, with all our ugly bruises, angry thoughts and uncertainty. The pavement  appears seemless and unbroken, with no end in sight, but it's not.  I delivered food yesterday to a young woman who used to run marathons, surf and dive.  She is paralyzed now from the neck down.  I asked her what she was doing for Thanksgiving, her answer rocked me.  "I'm going to help serve food at the homeless shelter, I can't do a lot, but I'm going to encourage those who can."  When we recognize God is real, in fact He calls Himself our "Savior", not, our "destroyer", and our lives have purpose that cannot be defeated by circumstances or physical death, you begin to see through the pavement. 


I saw this the other day while riding and It reminded me about a lot of the bros I know in Daytona that are goin through some rough stuff right now, I hope it encourages all of you as well.  I know the heart of a roadracer, and because our lives have been designed with purpose, we have much to be thankful for.  Happy Thanksgiving, #220.

[2old2fat2slow]

Happy Thanksgiving Art!! I am thankful for so many blessings in my life and having good faithful friends like you is on the top of my list! May God continue to bless you, your family, and your street ministry. Hugs to the wifey and kids!
Dale & Marea & Craig

[Cowboy 6]

Happy Thanksgiving to you too Art. Sorry we can't be there.

[bill999s]

Happy T-Day, Art

[chaplain220]

You as well Bill.  I got up with Mr Bob, but if you see Endzel and da Jordan boyz, give em my best. 

[skiandclimb]

Great post- great points!

This year, I am thankful for my family and friends.  I am also thankful for not having met the pavement  during the 09 season!

God bless,

Ski

[mikendzel]

Hey Art, happy belated Thanksgiving! 

I spent Thanksgiving Day in a tiny hospital room, 3 hours from home, and it was the best Thanksgiving I've ever had!  My little sister Chelsea caught/got bacterial meningitis and was nearly dead on Monday 11/22.  She still wasn't quite out of the woods on Thursday, but I was EXTREMELY thankful that she was still alive and that I could spend that day with her!!!  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this year was the first year that I was truly thankful. 

[chaplain220]

Very glad to hear bro Endzel, sounds like a real close one.  Kinda puts everything else into perspective dont it?  I hope she has a fast recovery. 

[Cowboy 6]

[/quote]

I spent Thanksgiving Day in a tiny hospital room, 3 hours from home, and it was the best Thanksgiving I've ever had!  My little sister Chelsea caught/got bacterial meningitis and was nearly dead on Monday 11/22.  She still wasn't quite out of the woods on Thursday, but I was EXTREMELY thankful that she was still alive and that I could spend that day with her!!!  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this year was the first year that I was truly thankful. 

Hey Mike, any word on your sister? We are praying for her.

[mikendzel]

She was released from the hospital and came home yesterday.  She has something in her arm that the antibiotics are going to be distributed through for the next few weeks, I have no idea what it's called but it basically foregoes the need to have an IV run everytime she needs to take the medicine.  Gettysburg will hopefully let her finish the semester from home since she's doing well in all of her classes and pretty much just has finals left.

She's in great spirits now, and is back to being "Chelsea," i.e. complaining because my dad grabbed the wrong shoes from her dorm room and trying to go shopping by herself today!!!
Thanks for the prayers fellas!!

[2old2fat2slow]

Wow, just read this. I will be praying for her as well Mike.