Going Back To The World That Was

I have to admit that as much as I find religion and politics important and necessary areas of thought and other engagement, I often wish to escape from all concern of them and the unavoidable divisions they make manifest - and to go back to a time of blissful ignorance when the only world to care about was the house and yard around me, and my parents were the two smartest, wisest, strongest, and fastest people in the world.  The closest I get to this now is to escape for a  long run or bike ride, and then to come back home to my kids to play the part my parents played to me.  Oh how I must savor this time!  It is to be a hero in someone's eyes, and in a world not yet made complicated.

Vain Raging and Hopeful Attempts at Breaking Restraining Cords

It's been a while, hasn't it?  However, recent events and postings from others have inspired me to post.  My thought for the day is from the Psalms (Psalm 2):

 1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people murmur in vain.
 2 The kings of the earth band themselves, and the Princes are assembled together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
 3 Let us break their bands, and cast their cords from us.
 4 But he that dwelleth in the heaven shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

...and another from Paul's letter to the Romans:
31 Which men, though they knew the Law of God, how that they which commit such things are worthy of death, yet not only do the same, but also favor them that do them.


The voice of the people ("vox populi") is not the voice of God ("vox Dei").  Furthermore, God is the only origin of what may be properly called "fundamental rights."  We mock God and provoke his wrath when we put ourselves in His place, ignore his law and limits, and pretend we are speaking for Him.

My Black Horse

I'm not a "real" cyclist in the estimation of most cyclists.  By this I mean I don't shave my legs or log any significant mileage.  I own a bike I bought back in 2000 (or was it 2001?)  There is something thoroughly satisfying about the thought of cycling - even more than cycling itself.  My daughter loves horses.  I love bicycles.  I love to look at bicycles.  I love to see them still and I love to see them moving.  Not just any old bicycles, but well-maintained, nearly-silent bicycles.  Classic or modern, I enjoy them all.  Yes, they are eye-candy.  When I mount my glossy black carbon Kestrel it is like my horse, my steed.  It is the Black Stallion to me.  In this way, my daughter and I both share a love of horses and of riding.

Riding a bicycle "stallion" is more easily accomplished than riding a real horse though.  It is less expensive and more accessible.  Today I will mount my Kestrel 200 sci road bike and ride it, mostly in decidedly un-scenic areas.  However, it is the joy of movement and the pleasure/pain of exertion that I treasure.  There is also something intoxicating about wheels and circles.  Cranks, axles, wheels, and all other spinning circular things.  Thank Goodness for the invention of the wheel!  My piston-like legs can join with the circular tendencies of my bike and produce the Ride.  In fact, my piston-like legs even adopt a circular, spinning, tendency themselves.  I try more and more to become "one" with the bike - a goal that necessarily involves the elusive perfect pedal stroke.

Perhaps I will eventually make more of my riding than my current recreational 2x/week rides.  I don't know.  Track cycling is an attractive thought...and it wouldn't involve the cyclist's enemy - motor vehicles and their drivers!  The interaction between rider and bike is closer as well.  No freewheel, no brakes, one gear.  If the bike is moving, your legs are moving!  Perhaps I will whet my appetite with more trips to the Hellyer Velodrome to watch the races.  For now, I'm off to the roads to ride my beautiful carbon fiber Kestrel steed.

Beginnings

For the first post to this blog I must give a bit of an introduction. I spent tortured hours trying to figure out a name for this here my blog. "Narnian Ale" was neck and neck with "Narnian Coffee" - but the "Coffee" won out. I like both drinks though. More later.