200 yards from a lightning strike

One of my life's delights is riding bicycles. One of the blessings of my job is to be able to bike commute. Work is only 12.5 miles away and my path is 40% boulevard, 58% bike path, and 2% downtown streets. The ride home is the real treat---at the end of a stressful day it wipes away all the bad.

I'm less afraid of rain having missed a LOT of great rides because of 'scattered showers' in the forecast. Unless it's an all-day rain forecast, I head out figuring that I'll dodge the showers with good timing or an afternoon check of the real time conditions.

Except for the other night. I totally spaced checking the radar. By the time I looked, it was too late. A big storm front was right on the edge of town and was poised to sweep across my route home. Lots of yellows and oranges in the radar image.

When the worst was over I saddled up, setting off into a steady rain--it was a warm night, my commuter bike has fenders, I was in good shape. As I pedaled out of downtown it became clear that I was going to get soaked. Not a big deal--it was still in the high 70's.

As I rode north on the bike path a lightning bolt struck a television tower about a half mile away. My route was going to take me right next to that tower. That got me thinking about the wisdom of riding along the trailing edge of that storm.

My mind began to churn. What if I got struck by lightning? What would that feel like? Would my funeral be this week? No, my parents would have to fly up from Tucson. Good thing I keep good files at work. I never told anyone what music to play at my service. My busy mind raced.

I'm ready to die. That's the difference now in my life since I've become a believer and have put my total trust in God. I've often said to people, "the day, time, and manner of your departure from earth was decided long ago." Easy to say but the reality of being zapped on the way home made me start thinking.

I went through a little review. I had cut my devotions and quiet time short that morning--praying, but not long and hard as I "should" have. I reviewed my many shortcomings --not only that day, but the multitude of sin that still collects on me like lint. This really got me to the place of humility---where I knew that should I light up like a Christmas tree in 200 yards---I certainly didn't deserve a lot of heavenly reward. I humbly asked for just a bit more forgiveness. Maybe I could sneak in.

And that's where the real blessing started. I dropped my human reasoning and thought of Jesus and what HE did for me that covered my junk---junk I could never haul away. A deep appreciation washed over me as I accepted the gift---again---and got closer to the tower.

No strike. Just wet.

The ride turned more glorious than I could have imagined. I rode with my tongue out of my mouth to catch raindrops. When I turned the corner for the final 2 miles the sky opened up and it rained even harder. I laughed and smiled and gratefully accepted the gift of a warm ride on a happy day---wrapped in the knowledge that there wasn't a thing I could do---it was all Jesus and what He came to do.

My shoes are still squishy.