RONNIE and EMILY’S
CHRISTIAN MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION It’s important to remember to take a moment before a ride to make sure you have considered the anticipated challenges that can pop up. You want to call on that planning time as a way to prepare for the ride itself. Just like taking a moment to get out of bed in the morning, so should a moment be taken prior to any ride. That way you can make sure that both you and the bike are ready for an adventure. That will help you ride with confidence and excitement. Another approach, as you prepare for a ride, is to spend a few minutes alone with the bike and give it a thorough inspection. Just like reviewing the ride route, you want the bike to run well and keep you safe from a breakdown. It is amazing what potential problems can be revealed in just a few short minutes of focused examination. Such a checkup can also help point out maintenance issues before they become dangerous. I like to take time to visualize the way I want the ride to go. You can also continue that review, even after the ride is underway. Often I have found such a review will lead to a successful ride and happier fellow riders. If one is serving as the Road Captain on a particular ride, it only takes few minutes, in advance, to print out a ride plan so the riders know where
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to go should they be separated from the group. That form of communication is of great benefit to the riders in a group, and it removes a situation by which a rider can get lost from the others. Finally, when the ride is done, take time to think about and review how it went. What went well, and what could be improved for the next outing? Take a few moments to see how the ride was received, and if the route and scenery were pleasing. Did you hit any really bad roads, and are you going to make notes in an appropriate file? Were the vendors friendly and did they make an effort to make the riders feel welcome? Did the shops where you stopped for refreshments communicate their pleasure in serving your group and make you feel welcome to visit them again? In the Bible, in Ephesians 6:18, it says, “Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you want.” Just as we are encouraged to communicate with ourselves and others, we are challenged to hear the Spirit. One of the great benefits in praying in that way is when we receive those wonderful answers. Best of all is the fact that praying brings you closer to God and His love for you. So pray at all times with all kinds of prayers and all kinds of needs and desires. God loves you and wants the very best for you, so talk with Him today. In the Wind, Denny Dingler
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