spring

I biked to work this afternoon. This means it is officially spring. I would have ridden this morning but I was afraid that the 47 degree start to the day would have left my fingers and toes too cold.

I live 3 miles from work and think I should be tough enough to bicycle commute in all kinds of weather. But I'm not. So I have to be satisfied with being eco-friendly for half the year, when the weather is warm. To my credit last year I did manage to ride a few times a week even when it was Kansas hot-hot summer last year. I anticipate doing so again.

Considering I have a desk job, bicycle commuting is a great thing. It gets me up and moving in the morning, gives a mid-day break and gets me home satisfied that my body accomplished something in the day, not just my mind and fingers. Assuming I go home for lunch, that's 12 miles just to and from work. That's good for body and soul.

I haven't yet made pastoral visits or trips to the hospital on my bike. But I should because most of my members live close enough to the church. Bicycle commuting is still enough of an oddity in Wichita that I worry a little what my parishioners might say if I rolled up to their house and unsnapped my helmet. Actually they would probably love it. Something else quirky for them to know about their pastor.

I've been thinking a lot about a sticker I saw two weeks ago at a lecture. It was made by "the simple way," an intentional community in inner-city Philadelphia. It said, "Dream Big....live small." I fail at that a lot. I use conveniences much more than I need to, especially convenience foods. But when my car stays in the garage and I get to my destination on two--no emission--wheels, I feel a little victory for small living.