Elisha said that?

Dearest blog reader

I hope that this finds you doing well. I am fine.  I have just finished day one of the big bike ride. It sprinkled just a little as we neared Crawfordsville. It wasn't bad.

Just a quick reminder, you can still donate to habitat at the website. You can link to it on last week's blog.

 I have met Jim, Kevin, Robert, and Linda.  Meeting Linda has  forced me to question all of maledom.

 There is a lovely young junior woman on this ride who is apparently fearless, riding a bike that shouldn't be on a 20 mile bike ride let alone a 350 mile bike ride. She broke down and all of these young men (read idiots) didn't stop to help her. So if you are a young man with half a brain, Linda is a soon to be industrial engineer, who studies Ancient Greek because it is interesting.

I hate to use the phrase, "back when I was a kid", but this situation was made for it. Back when I was a kid, I glanced the lovely miss Beverly on a canoe trip and camp out.  Being a handsome young man with average social skills, I flirted with her shamelessly; talking big about tipping her canoe over, suggesting that she rent a submarine for the day.  She was rightfully smitten by my social graces and took off with a friend as fast as she could. Their plan was to sprint ahead of the danger zone. They were successful.  They sprinted a head so far and so fast that they out ran the support team and went an extra 8 miles.

So being an intelligent young man, I capitalized on her exhaustion. Unable to flee further, I was able to show Bev my astounding potential. You guys blew it today. Tomorrow is another day. Take a lesson from your uncle Rog.

Today's leg from Lafayette to Crawfordsville, was sponsored by Becky Heck. Thanks Becky. The ice cream for tonight will be strawberry. I lift my spoon in salute.  Becky's request for the blog today was "what bible story does this experience bring to mind."  This is a very appropriate. It is Sunday.

I must admit that the exodus came to mind as we left the parkinglot fleeing from our oppressors; a motely crew. Everyone was bright eyed and bushy tailed. This evening we all look as if Moses has abandoned us up on mt. Sinai at God's custom engraving; kind of hollow eyed and a bit feverish. If you look at the forecast tomorrow, the trip could be reminicent of Noah.  Thinking about it more, I get drawn back to Moses again watching people walk around as if a plague of boils had visited their backside.

In the end it is an Elisha story; that crusty old prophet.  Here is the story.
2 Kings 2:23-24Another time, Elisha was on his way to Bethel and some little kids came out from the town and taunted him, "What's up, old baldhead! Out of our way, skinhead!"Elisha turned, took one look at them, and cursed them in the name of God. Two bears charged out of the underbrush and knocked them about, ripping them limb from limb-- forty- two children in all!

Obviously, Elisha had been riding his bike to cover Israel; out doing good deeds. His saddle didn't fit quite right.  The wind had been in his face. He was just heading for the cave to get out of his bearskin tights and these impudent young motor scooter riding brats started calling the man of God old baldy.  Was calling down curses on their heads a bit harsh? Maybe. Could he have asked them to use their kind words instead? Absolutely. But the story would have been a lot longer and he needed his sleep before day two.

Take care

Roger