Turing 50 And Finding Happiness Under An Overpass

Hey guys and gals...I hope that you are all doing well today and enjoying your day, your life and feeling the presence of God in everything you do. I want to start out today by saying that I turned 50 yesterday...AND while I didn't have the ideal day...in many ways...I loved it!! I am presently in Florida taking part in a study for a new type of treatment for ALS (I was diagnosed with this disease in March of this year - blog coming covering this topic). I might add that it is going well and we all have seen improvements so far...I am nearing the end of my 3 week of a 4 week study. But this blog isn't about that; it is about my birthday and the experience that I had, on that all important day.

I have had so much support from my family and friend's during this time...one such instance of this support is...one of my friend's brought my bike out to me. There are so many more instances, but this one in particular is important to this blog. Because I wanted to take a "birthday ride"...I try to every year, and I didn't see why this year should be any different. So I rode down to Ft. Meyers, Florida. I am in Sarasota, and Ft Meyers is about 75 miles south...I did my treatment, cleaned the bike and then took off. It was a beautiful day and while I had no idea what I was going to do once I got there...in my mind - I was thinking that I would find a great little restaurant and have a nice meal, enjoy my day there and possibly go to the beach...anyhow I was just winging it, and I was excited about the possibilities.

Well when I got there I never found the beach, I never found that restaurant, so I never had that nice meal. To top that all off it was starting to cloud up, and I don't mean just a little rain cloud...it was what to me; looked like a good old fashion Texas thunderstorm. Black clouds, the wind was picking up...everything we Texans know to stay out of when we see it coming. Well I had ridden around and was starved (because I was holding out for that nice meal), so I settled for a roast beef sandwich from Subway...it was good, BUT not what I had envisioned as my birthday meal...lol...so I ate about half of it and got on my way trying to beat the rain. Needless to say I didn't make it...AND I ended up getting caught in a really heavy downpour. Of course I had my slicker with me, BUT I made a last minute decision to NOT put it on...LOL...I have to say that was the second time I have done that and hopefully the last, because I was soaked by the time I found any shelter...an overpass. I was so relieved. To give you an idea of just how hard it was raining...there was another vehicle under that very same overpass. A minivan with a family in it...I didn't approach them, because of the situation; and I didn't want them fear me or anything I may do. I was just happy to have some shelter...

So if this father felt like it was prudent that he pull over and seek refuge for his family, to keep them safe...you can only imagine just how hard it was raining. Remember I had made that dreadful decision to NOT put on my rain suit...so I was drenched inside and out by the time I got to the overpass and out of the rain. I set there for a few minutes and realized that I would need to dry off and protect myself from hypothermia. I actually had a beach towel with me (for the beach I never found), so I grabbed it and took my shirt off and dried off...as I did this I realized just how happy I was. Amazing just how God puts thoughts into our mind that puts us all at ease about the situation that we are in at that time. Here I was in the middle of Florida, trapped in a total downpour, under an overpass, I didn't get the meal I had hoped too, I didn't find that beach I had hopped to find, it was my birthday...and God lays this happiness on my heart like you would not believe. I was so happy to be living that experience at THAT moment in time...

I believe that if we all are patient, wait for God and listen for God that He provides everything we could ever need or want. He tells us in the bible that He provides for the sparrow, and that He loves us more than the sparrow, so why wouldn't He provide everything that we could ever want or need? And why do we let ourselves worry about things we have no control over? I am so happy that He finds me worthy of situations like this and gives me the ability and desire to share them with you. I know...I am learning - that He is "The Great Provider", He even provides happiness under an overpass in the pouring down rain in the middle of Florida.

until next time...

Father God I want to thank You for finding me worthy of all Your blessings...no matter how small they may seem to be. I know You are with us all and at any given moment. You will provide us with anything and everything that we could ever desire. I ask You to bless everyone this day and everyday Father God in ways that we can not imagine. That only You, OUR Great Provider could ever imagine. Show us happiness in the pouring rain, provide us with a never ending desire to search for You, listen for You and find it in our hearts to follow the path that You have put us on...these things we pray in Jesus' name, Amen.