Nothing too exciting to report today. But, I do have a bit of a dilemma...
Summer classes are starting on Monday. I need to get up to school to pick up my text books. School is only 5.7 miles from work. But right smack in the middle, between work and school, is my house, where the car will be sitting. So I have options. I could bike all the way to school OR I could stop at home, pick up the car, and drive the rest of the way. I'm fairly certain that I will just ride all the way up there. It's not that far and I think it will actually be quite nice. I'll be soaking wet from sweat, but it will be a great workout. And it will give me whole new territory to explore on my bike. I'm really trying to commit to doing most of my communiting via bicycle. But it is very tempting to stop and pick up the car. I also just want to say that Google Maps is AWESOME! I am capable of getting "bicycle" directions. My friend Andrew told me about this. It is wonderful. And I will actually pass a Starbucks so I'll probably grab some iced tea on my way. Which makes me realize...I should have bought the cup holder for my bike. I ended up getting the bell, which is nice because now people can be warned when I am coming.
Anyways, I wish you all peace love and coffee!!!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
God bless you man!
How often does someone say to me, or do I say, "God bless you?" This morning, the homeless man was back on the corner of South Howard and Swann, across from Panera. I met my mom there for coffee and breakfast before work. (As a side note, I am truly blessed to live so close to my parents that I am able to see them regularly!) She and I realized we both had lost track of time and now were both running late. I unlocked my bike, threw my bag in my basket, and made sure I had money in my pocket. I crossed the street, and gave the man my change from breakfast. He looked me in the eyes with complete excitement and said, "God bless you man!" As I rode away from him, it left me wondering. How often do I hear or say, "God bless you," to people...besides when someone sneezes? I mean, when do I just say it, or hear it being said to someone? But also, it made me reflect on how much He has blessed me! Are joyful givers those who live knowing they are blessed and give out of their joy? If so, I want to live like that.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Feed the birds, tuppence the bag
If you have ever lived in, or been to, Tampa, you know there is a large homeless population. It makes sense with the year round nice weather. If I was homeless I would definitely stay in FL.
On my way to work I always pass by a street corner that has a lot of car traffic. It is the corner of South Howard and Swann. There is a Panera Bread and a Starbucks, so lots of coming and going, picking up caffeine and breakfast. A month or so ago, there was a homeless man at this corner every afternoon as I traveled home from work, this was when I was still driving my car. Everytime I tried to give him food or money, he either didn't notice me or was too far down the sidewalk to hear me. But there were a few times that I just pretended he was not there and tried not to make eye contact. Finally, one afternoon, we connected and I gave him some money. From that day forward, I never saw him again.
This morning on my way to work, there was a new homeless man at this corner. It has been several weeks since I've seen anyone there. He was on the opposite side of the street so I did not stop. I have been wondering all day if he will be there this afternoon. I'll put a couple of bucks in my pocket just in case. I make it a point never to pull my wallet out in front of people. But it has been making me think of the original homeless man I saw on the corner before. What happened to him? Where did he go? Is he alright? I have heard at different points throughout my life that you never know how Jesus Christ is going to manifest himself in your life. I wonder if that original homeless was an Angel or Jesus Christ? Prompting me to act, to do something, not just to pass by and pretend he was not there. The song, "Feed the birds," from Mary Poppins, reminds me of that also:
Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul's
The little old bird woman comes.
In her own special way to the people she calls,
"Come, buy my bags full of crumbs.
Come feed the little birds, show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do.
Their young ones are hungry,
Their nests are so bare;
All it takes is tuppence from you."
Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag.
"Feed the birds," that's what she cries,
While overhead, her birds fill the skies.
All around the cathedral the saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares.
Although you can't see it, you know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares.
Though her words are simple and few,
Listen, listen, she's calling to you:
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag."
It's the prompting, the angel, calling you to act, to do something. In the movie, Mary Poppins explains to Jane and Michael that some people cannot see past the end of their nose. So these people do not listen, look, or act when prompted by the little old bird woman. Hopefully I remember to listen and to look on my way home today. I can tell you one thing, it is much easier to observe life from my bike, than it is in the car.
Peace Love and Coffee!
On my way to work I always pass by a street corner that has a lot of car traffic. It is the corner of South Howard and Swann. There is a Panera Bread and a Starbucks, so lots of coming and going, picking up caffeine and breakfast. A month or so ago, there was a homeless man at this corner every afternoon as I traveled home from work, this was when I was still driving my car. Everytime I tried to give him food or money, he either didn't notice me or was too far down the sidewalk to hear me. But there were a few times that I just pretended he was not there and tried not to make eye contact. Finally, one afternoon, we connected and I gave him some money. From that day forward, I never saw him again.
This morning on my way to work, there was a new homeless man at this corner. It has been several weeks since I've seen anyone there. He was on the opposite side of the street so I did not stop. I have been wondering all day if he will be there this afternoon. I'll put a couple of bucks in my pocket just in case. I make it a point never to pull my wallet out in front of people. But it has been making me think of the original homeless man I saw on the corner before. What happened to him? Where did he go? Is he alright? I have heard at different points throughout my life that you never know how Jesus Christ is going to manifest himself in your life. I wonder if that original homeless was an Angel or Jesus Christ? Prompting me to act, to do something, not just to pass by and pretend he was not there. The song, "Feed the birds," from Mary Poppins, reminds me of that also:
Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul's
The little old bird woman comes.
In her own special way to the people she calls,
"Come, buy my bags full of crumbs.
Come feed the little birds, show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do.
Their young ones are hungry,
Their nests are so bare;
All it takes is tuppence from you."
Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag.
"Feed the birds," that's what she cries,
While overhead, her birds fill the skies.
All around the cathedral the saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares.
Although you can't see it, you know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares.
Though her words are simple and few,
Listen, listen, she's calling to you:
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag."
It's the prompting, the angel, calling you to act, to do something. In the movie, Mary Poppins explains to Jane and Michael that some people cannot see past the end of their nose. So these people do not listen, look, or act when prompted by the little old bird woman. Hopefully I remember to listen and to look on my way home today. I can tell you one thing, it is much easier to observe life from my bike, than it is in the car.
Peace Love and Coffee!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Saturday...the morning after
This morning I rode down to Starbucks to grab some iced coffee and read the NYTimes. Has always been one of my favorite ways to start off the weekend. On my ride, while I enjoyed the cool air, birds singing, and owls hooting I noticed something on a bus stop bench. First let me say, it is always funny riding down South Howard on a Saturday or Sunday morning. The parking lots are still full of cars, having been left by people who drank far too much and got rides home or took taxis. But this morning I saw something different. On the bus stop bench a young twenty-something man was passed out. He clearly was not homeless, in his trendy printed t-shirt and designer jeans. Well, at least he had enough sense not to try to drive home, but my heart went out to him. Where were his friends last night? Why hadn't they taken care of him, gotten him home, and made sure he was safe? Where was his community?
After an hour at Starbucks, on my ride home, I passed him again. He was know awake and texting on his phone. Was he wondering what happened? Was he wondering where his community was and why they had left him? Did he even have the awareness yet to know how to get home? I asked him if he was okay and needed anything. He just looked at me, told me he was fine, and said he just needed a minute. So I rode home...thinking about community and being thankful for my family, friends, and community. I know I am cared for. And I hope they know how much they are cared for as well. PLC!
After an hour at Starbucks, on my ride home, I passed him again. He was know awake and texting on his phone. Was he wondering what happened? Was he wondering where his community was and why they had left him? Did he even have the awareness yet to know how to get home? I asked him if he was okay and needed anything. He just looked at me, told me he was fine, and said he just needed a minute. So I rode home...thinking about community and being thankful for my family, friends, and community. I know I am cared for. And I hope they know how much they are cared for as well. PLC!
Friday, May 7, 2010
First Entry
I recently started biking to work everyday. The entire distance from my house to work is 2.6miles. This blog is going to be about things I notice, think about, and realize while biking.
Today's thought = Biking everywhere is making me a more patient person.
Before I started biking to work everyday, I thought that biking would cause me to feel rushed. It was going to start taking me more time to get work, church, school, or run errands. This is now my third week of biking. I know I can only speak for myself, but biking has truly slowed me down. I plan accordingly, making sure I leave my house with enough time to get to work, but I'm not rushing there. I CAN'T RUSH THERE. It is so nice not to jump in the car, pull onto the road, and race along with all the other drivers. To not be caught up with the frantic drivers hurrying to get their kids dropped off, grab their coffee, paper, and breakfast.
I intentionally bought a Schwinn Men's Cruiser. It is brown, with a bike rack on back, and has 7 gears. It is not a bike I can speed down the road on. I've attached a milk crate to the bike rack so I can carry my bag, tire pump, bike tool, and bike lock. Every morning I hop on and gradually make my way down the side walks of South Tampa to my office. In the afternoons I can stop at Starbucks, the grocery store, the produce stand, or any other number of places to pick stuff up if I have to. Or I can just head right home. It is nice to just coast along, decompress, wave to friends, and enjoy the beauty that God has created all around me. To live in a place where the sun is shining constantly, it would almost be a waste not bike to work everyday, just so I could be thankful for it.
Today's thought = Biking everywhere is making me a more patient person.
Before I started biking to work everyday, I thought that biking would cause me to feel rushed. It was going to start taking me more time to get work, church, school, or run errands. This is now my third week of biking. I know I can only speak for myself, but biking has truly slowed me down. I plan accordingly, making sure I leave my house with enough time to get to work, but I'm not rushing there. I CAN'T RUSH THERE. It is so nice not to jump in the car, pull onto the road, and race along with all the other drivers. To not be caught up with the frantic drivers hurrying to get their kids dropped off, grab their coffee, paper, and breakfast.
I intentionally bought a Schwinn Men's Cruiser. It is brown, with a bike rack on back, and has 7 gears. It is not a bike I can speed down the road on. I've attached a milk crate to the bike rack so I can carry my bag, tire pump, bike tool, and bike lock. Every morning I hop on and gradually make my way down the side walks of South Tampa to my office. In the afternoons I can stop at Starbucks, the grocery store, the produce stand, or any other number of places to pick stuff up if I have to. Or I can just head right home. It is nice to just coast along, decompress, wave to friends, and enjoy the beauty that God has created all around me. To live in a place where the sun is shining constantly, it would almost be a waste not bike to work everyday, just so I could be thankful for it.
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