Just got back from my cardiologist, who gave me the thumbs up, “whatever
you are doing, keep doing it,” a far cry from six years ago when I needed a
miracle and became a miracle. My infectious disease doctor told me my labs were
phenomanol, and still calls me Miracle Mike. This is the kind of doctor visits
I can handle. But both have a quality of bedside manner that goes far beyond
their trained skills, which both will admit is missing in many new doctors
today. The new breed may have the technical qualities, but lack the
compassionate caring of a Doc Welby. Like my cardiologist, Dr. G, loves to
travel, not by bike, but is fascinated by my rides. Even sharing places I would
like to ride, and of course places to eat. He is real about life, and health,
inspiring me to take care of myself so I can ride more. Bedside or roadside, he
has my back. A man after my own heart, no pun intended.
But joking yesterday about road food, he told me “if it tastes good, don’t
eat it.” I do have to watch my diet, as bad eating habits almost killed me
once. But he suggested for me a better way to eat, a better schedule if you
will. On the road it may be a small motel breakfast, avoiding the latex eggs
and sausage cooked in Castrol. Ride 100 miles, then a late breakfast or early
lunch, a big meal. Then a late dinner, because am starved by then. That was
the old me. He suggested many smaller meals during the day, skip the big ones,
and avoid getting hungry and gorging. It will help me lose weight and not tax
my system so much. Don’t wait until you are starving to eat, stop and munch as
you go, just enough to sustain you. Today will be my first test or application,
and I am excited for it. For food and riding are so much of my life. Eat to
ride and ride to eat.....
But it made me reflect on how a relationship with God can develop bad
habits. Too many only wait until they are in trouble and starving for what God
has to offer. They don’t snack on Jesus during the week, and take in a big meal
on Sunday, sleeping it off that afternoon. Forgetting that even the 5000 that
Jesus fed were hungry again the next day and would need food. Jesus provides
our daily bread via his spirit, and he tells us “as you go to make disciples.”
People do love God and show it other than at Sunday go to meeting. Maybe we are
neglecting the in between meals, the times of prayer and fellowship, of thinking
of Jesus when riding or singing a song. We get hungry for the gospel, and will
gorge one day and starve the next. Like binge eating, some are binge
Christians, on a steady diet at church, but on a diet of low spirit during the
week. Their moods and witness suffering, along with their relationship with
Jesus. Sometimes the guilt is revealed in a long prayer before the meal,
thanking God for everything while the food get cold, or silently chastising
those who don’t eat up to their standards. So Dr. G’s advice on changing my
eating habits directly reflects my walk with Christ. Seems I am hungry all the
time for him, and waiting for meal time just don’t cut it. So I nibble all day,
and find he is more of my life than a once a week church service can provide.
Or nightly prayer, or blessing before a meal. So maybe riding to eat when
applied to being a Christian can improve both diets, spiritually and
physically. Sounds like my kind of food....
There are times when you just gotta have a Tootsie Roll, and times when you
ride too far without stopping to have one. Dulls the senses, and cuts into
enjoying the ride. And why do either if you don’t enjoy it? So as a Christian,
are you getting all the nourishment you need, so you can ride all the miles you
desire? Now I don’t condone living on Tootsie Rolls, mix in a Baby Ruth every
once in awhile, but eat healthy and often. For it is not what goes into a man
that is important, but what comes out. I like to eat and love Jesus, now I can
do both more often. At my doctor’s orders. Gotta love a man like that, to be
encouraged to enjoy life, but do it healthy too. And while you are enjoying
your second or third plate, I will be full and refreshed and out riding. With
many stops along the way, and new face and places to see. So don’t wait until
starved to eat, and don’t wait until spiritually hungry to know Jesus. Road
food somehow always tastes better, and who better to show you than he who spent
his life on the road. While an ad tells us to “stay thirsty my friends,” I
rather be full of the spirit. You only starve after you miss something, I see
my diet changing already. On the road, or in the home, at the table or at the
counter, never miss a meal again without Jesus. Don’t bother leaving a tip on
the table, this one was free....I’ll save a stool for you.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com