williston, north dakota

Be Legendary

We did an unexpected century today. With the wind kicking us across Montana, we made it to North Dakota in good time. Along the way we made about four stops at the SnackWagon, had two flats (me), found two more Montana license plates, stopped to take a look at Minisdah Presbyterian Church, snapped some pictures of the Perkulator in Poplar, and blitzed on to Williston, North Dakota. We are now in another state, another time zone, and . . . tomorrow's a rest day.

Minisdah Presbyterian Church in Chelsea, Montana was established in 1903. Obviously, it was started as a church to reach the Indians with the Gospel. The huge cemetery behind the church is filled with decorated tombstones and monuments with Indian names. The front door was not locked so we went inside for a self-tour. The interior of the church building has bench pews, a old piano, an older organ, a pulpit, and an American flag behind the pulpit. I don't know this to be true but the building may still be used for services.

Tomorrow, as I said, is a rest day. That doesn't mean we stay here and sleep all day but it is a day of no pedaling. We've decided to drive south thirty-five miles to Teddy Roosevelt National Park. Margaret and Gale are happy because they can get their Passport Books stamped. It will be a good break for all of us and the time away from the pedals won't bother us a bit.

I had two flats today. That makes three flats for me thus far. I've decided that when I find a good bike shop, I'll have my tires changed to tubeless. That simply means I'll have new stems put in my wheels, the tubes removed, and some tubeless slime put inside the tires to seal them. With tubeless tires, I probably would not have had any of the three flats. The first flat was due to a tiny thorn no longer than 1/8". The second was due to a tiny piece of wire, probably a piece of a car tire's steel belting. And, the third was probably caused by a faulty repair I made on the second flat. But . . . the flats were the results of tiny, tiny punctures caused by tiny, tiny objects. I realize, even though I am constantly looking for bigger items that would cause flats, flats are caused by things I cannot see. Small things I cannot see. Tiny things!

That's the story of life. It's the little things that knock us off the path of life we are traveling. They don't seem big. In fact, some of them are almost nothing to think or worry about. So . . . no big deal. And then, we find ourselves standing along life's road, stuck, stopped, messed up, and going nowhere. Little things will get ya, because they become big things.

Not too long ago, my pastor said, "A lot of little things, done for God, will result in great things." On the other hand, a lot of little things, that should not be done at all, will result in hurt, damage, broken, side-lined, and going-nowhere lives. When we have a choice, choose the little things that can result in great things.

"Enjoy the little things in life . . . for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things."

Choose wisely.