July 11, 2024…

This was a day to remember. Or at least it should have been. 

Littlest, Peej, Downer, and I departed Black Bass hotel in Annecy, France and headed out for day one of our great cycling adventure. We hit the first mountain a couple hours in. Felt fine as we made our way up. About three quarter of the way there, I was overcome with the heat and my inability to catch another breath. So, I told the dudes to go on. I stopped and caught my breath. Only problem. It did not catch. So, I sat down on the side of the tarmac and cooled myself down in the shade. A few minutes later I remounted my trusty ride and tried to turn the pedals. Lasted about ten strokes and no bueno. Rinsed and repeated one more time. I had never retreated from a mountain climb and was determined (dumbASS) this would not be the first. Finally, admitted defeat and turned left. Headed down. 

Would get up the next six days and ride through whatever it was. DumbASS. Blamed it on a bad day on the bike. Blamed it on heat stroke. Blamed it on the tiny twigs. Here’s truth. It was likely the early stages of AFib (arterial fibrilation). I’m wearing my Apple Watch as I type this and it tells me I’m in it now. Feel fine. I’m not. So, next Friday Doc Electricity is going to perform an ablation. Likely long overdue. We’ll never know for sure. 

Today, during Church with Mom, Pastor Andy took us through Proverbs 9: 7-12. Verse 8 spoke to my sorriness – “Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” You see, Brother Mick told me to get an Apple Watch right after my heart attack on March 27, 2021. He, in fact, refused to ride with me unless I did. He changed his mind, since I would not change mine, and continued to ride. He would always stay with me when more bad days on the bike played out. He was kind. I was not coachable. DumbASS. I see this everyday all around me. Kinda forgot to look in the mirror, you know. 

So, leader, what data is staring your sorriness in the face and instead of leaning in, you are leaning away? Don’t be a dumbASS. A wise man loves truth. A wise man loves to learn. A wise man humbly learns from those the Lord puts in their path. You’ve been reminded. I hope you’re leaning in. Damn.

Live hard. Love ❤️ harder…

Thanks, Brother Mick, for leaning in to me. I’m learning to STOP my tendency to lean away…