sheffield, ohio

We found it!

 The word for the day is lost. That's what we were for a bunch of miles. We started our ride in Fremont, Ohio and after about five miles of zigging and zagging, Phil and I finally found the beginning of the North Coast Inland Bike Path. The Path was, indeed, a super nice path, paved, smooth, and straight. Most of the path was through corn and wheat fields and some small towns. Next, we were supposed to exit the bike path at South Ridge Road near Clyde and, because the county roads are not marked at bike trail crossings, we missed it and were lost for a short time again. Next we got lost missing a sign for County Road 288 toward Avery and in Avery we could not find Huron-Avery Road to Huron which is right on Lake Erie. Once in Huron we only had to turn right and stay on Route 6 for a ride to our destination.

You would think that with all the navigational gear we have with us that lost would not even be part of our travel vocabulary. But it is. We've got Adventure Cycling Northern Tier maps, STRAVA, Garmin, Google Maps, and Waze. How could we ever get lost? Our biggest problem was the devices were not all giving the same directions! Two were giving directions to drivers of motorized vehicles. One was giving directions to bike riders and two weren't giving anything at all. They were just recording our ride on maps. When it came right down to which directions to believe, we chose the guidance of our bike maps and finally got to our destination. But what a mess we were in when we tried to get directions from two or three devices and put them together into one map! It didn't work.

This whole messy day reminds me of life in general. We often hear many voices guiding, advising, directing, and even deceiving us as we go from day to day and decision to decision. And, generally, what happens is . . . we get lost. If you really want guidance you can trust just open your Bible.

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105)

"How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:9-11)

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." (Psalm 32:8)

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)

Now don't buy into what the prosperity preachers tell you. If you trust and follow Jesus, read his Word everyday, pray, and go to church, you will still have problems, temptations, hurts, and even get lost from time to time. But you will get through it. And . . . you'll have Someone who really cares and will travel every step of the way with you. Hang out with the Father every day . . . all day. Get into your Bible and get your Bible into you.

Don't get lost. Do the Bible!

Oh, I almost forgot! Day 44 . . . We pedaled 60.10 miles today. 2,759.46 miles/approximately 955 to go!