Reflections

Written by cycleguy on October 23rd, 2017

I had every intention on posting this immediately but life got in the way. Plus…I needed time to process the weekend. So much was going on that my head literally “swam.” (I am still suffering from some vertigo so that is not far from the truth). 🙂

My day Thursday was highlighted by picking up a new friend at the airport. His name is Dave Waechter and he is now the leader of “3 Feet Please,” the advocacy group for giving cyclists three feet of safe distance when being passed. Dave and I hit it off immediately. He likes pizza. He loves ice cream. He loves cycling. He loves to talk. And even though he is a very intelligent man, never once did I feel he talked down to me. He is involved in IT consulting and has been with the Suicide Prevention Network in Tempe since it started. He has a good and kind heart. The death of his friend, Lynn, by being hit by a car while cycling has deeply affected him but he is using it to make things happen. The big disappointment (besides not being able to ride this trip) was his daughter, Nina, his cohort in cycling was unable to come with him. Dave fit into our family like we have known each other all our lives. Jo & Tami felt very comfortable with him. And I was particularly thrilled he enjoyed being with us Sunday and felt very at home.

Sunday was the really big day I wrote about in this post. Our celebration was super and, I believe, God-honoring. Ryan and I both talked to folks who were here. You can listen to the podcast if you’d like by going to the church’s website and clicking on the podcast. Because we both spoke it is a bit longer than normal. What I wish is you could have been here to listen to the people singing their praise. WOW! I literally stopped to listen and felt emotions well up within me. I honestly believe the people were “heart-engaged” and not just lip-engaged. We had some great food afterwards, along with laughing and joking, and a good time being with people. And the weather? WOW! I’m not sure we could have asked for more ideal weather. 70s. Sunny. A slight breeze. Just an all around beautiful day.

To bring even more drama into our weekend, we all attended the New Beginnings Pregnancy Resource Center banquet on Saturday night. Sunday night Dave and I went to our local theater, the Tivoli, to watch Luther.  This is the 500th year anniversary of the Reformation and Martin Luther started it all with his 95 Theses nailed the Wittenburg Church door.  I took Dave back to the Indianapolis airport at 5:30 this morning.

So I had a full but very good weekend. Thanks to all who were praying. Thanks to Dave for taking the time to come and visit. Here are two jokers joking:

Yeah…we are a tad bit strange but you gotta have some fun! Thanks for joining me today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 Comments so far ↓

  1. ceil says:

    Hi Bill! This has been such a great month for you! A vacation with Jo, and a visit from your twin (from a different mother). I’m so glad you have all these wonderful God-appointed events.
    Your celebration at church sounds like it was so powerful. I can attest to the weather too. My daughter, little grandson and I were in Brown County this weekend, and it was just beautiful. As some would say, God was just ‘showing off’!
    I know that you are well-loved by your congregation, and what a joy to see them all praise the Lord too. It’s a gift that gives in so many ways…to you, Ryan and to the Lord!
    Blessings,
    Ceil

    • cycleguy says:

      I agree Ceil. It has been a good month. A much-needed break from the other “stuff.” 🙂 My one regret is not knowing you would be in Brown County. We went through Nashville on our way back from Greenwood on Friday. Plus I would have made the trip over to meet you if I had known. Thanks for the kind words. Ryan and I are loved well by this church.

  2. Betty Draper says:

    What a special treat for all to have Dave there for the celebration. Love the pictures of you and Dave being funny. I think, like Ceil, you were due a good month. Blessings

    • cycleguy says:

      it was a special treat for me Betty. I’d like to think this weekend was good for him also. And yeah…we could have been crazier but toned it down some. LOL

  3. cycleguy says:

    From Dave: Nice! Thank you!

    I’m glad you didn’t mention the pumpkin razzing you got. 🙂

    • cycleguy says:

      Just so you all know: I can’t stand pumpkin anything. I stood my ground against hurtful and demeaning comments being made against my personhood (by said commentor and my own wife and a friend named Linda). Now…don’t you have just a little bit of sympathy for me and my mistreatment?

  4. Oh, you definitely have to have fun! Dave sounds like a wonderful guy, and I’m so happy your service was so well received, Bill. What a blessing!
    Blessings to you and to all!