I have lost track of the number of times I have ridden my bike to Bishop Lake.  Each time, it is an adventure.  This ride was special.  God was speaking and I was intent on hearing his voice.



My usual objective – speed – was not my primary goal.  Today I was looking for berries.  Black Berries.



Dave Devaney was not able to ride with me today, so I was alone with my thoughts and alone on the trail.



On the way to Bishop Lake, the road winds thru the subdivision and connects to a gravel road.  The road was firm and fast, but also full of many dead animals.  Dead raccoons and dead possums - The smell of death seemed to linger in the air as I ride past the fresh road kill.



My primary path lies ahead of me.  200 more yards and I meet my destination – a gnarly bike path edged by vegetation and trees.  Some alive, many dead.

With no one to chase me, I listen to my slow rhythmic breathing.  I feel good – in the past, I would have ridden faster.  Today was different – God was getting my attention.



Black Berries – sweet to eat and a treasure to find.  I was hoping to find some.  I would not be disappointed.



As I rounded down past a curve – my attention is drawn to a single berry on the edge of the path.  I attempt to slow down and do so quickly.  I dismount and toss my bike off the path.



I walk back the path to the location where I saw the berry.  I seize it in my fingers and quickly plop it in my mouth. I stand there disappointed and begin to dialogue with God – I say, “That was a waste of time – just one berry?”  “What’s up with that?”



I find myself talking to God more and more like this – some times I talk out loud – sometimes not – this time I was just talking to myself and to God



Then I heard His voice – He was talking back to me.



“If you want to find the fruit – you have to get off the path”



I heard it in my spirit:



“If you want to find the fruit – you have to get off the path” – so I allowed myself to consider this truth – I walked and looked about me – for the next 20 minutes I looked beyond the edge of the path and I wandered away from the safety of the hardened clay – As I walked into the tangled weeds I began to find large clusters of moist berries.



Could God really be speaking to me in such a simple and direct way?  What path does he want me to leave?  Will He provide IF I leave the path?  What fruit will I find?  Is the fruit people or provision – or both?



Back on my bike, I pass by reminders of the past.  The trail has taken necessary detours due to dangerous erosion.  The trail is marked with numerous reminders of alternate paths no longer taken.  I am also reminded of the numerous obstacles that have been cut out or removed from the trail – I always remember the spots and think about how obstacles in life must be overcome or removed.  Today the trail continues to hold many obstacles.



Sand Traps and rooted hills take their toll, as I get bounced off my bike no less than 3 times.  I am frustrated with the path and my lack of focus. 



My mind is now racing and I seem to forget the agony of falling off my bike.  The voice of God continues to haunt me. 



“If you want to find the fruit – you must get off the path”



Lena’s lesson begins to torment me as well. What path have I been walking?  How many times have I beaten down the well-worn path?  What must I do to get off this path?  Isa 58 – If/Then – Lena’s lesson is harassing my mind. 



The narrow path for bikes now joins the main road.  The road with many travelers and many people.  Death and life share this wide road.



Despite my rather slow pace, I stop at the top of a hill to rest for a moment.  I see in the distance a purple car coming towards me.  The car slows and stops.  It’s my old neighbor exchanging greetings with me. She concludes her gracious comments and continues down the road in the opposite direction.



As I ride away from her departure, I am amused that the color of her car approximates the color of the berries that I had been searching for that day.

Less than I mile from my house I see some girls holding a sign.  It says – “If you love Jesus – HONK” – I shout to them – “Hey I love Jesus”



I continue down the road – God is telling me to “make some noise on this journey – If you are going to stay on this path – at least make some noise for God as you go”



Back home – I rest.



Lena’s lesson, God, Berries, the Path, Make some noise. 



God was speaking – I was listening – now for the hard part – getting off the path.

 

Gary Gentry