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Church picnic day is becoming notorious!

For the past four years we have had rain.  As we did on Sunday, our church picnic day!

The rain started in the morning prior to our church service.  There was a howling wind and slashes of water falling from the sky.

Then the weather calmed.  The mud dried and the wind subsided.  We had set up the picnic “tables” inside the auditorium.  Our two main outdoor activities were to be a wagon ride and kite flying.  Earlier in the morning we were envisioning mud and mayhem.

As we finished our lunch I ventured out with some of the kids who wanted to fly kites.  We let out the string and they ran like crazy.  The kites flew until the kids stopped.  Then they lazily drifted to the ground – not enough wind power.

So the wagon ride was quickly organized.  After a round of our local church dam, the kids came back reddened and a bit dehydrated.

Now, we might say this was a bust, but it wasn’t.  I’m becoming more convinced that friends and fun are more important than some of the agenda we put forward.  The adults sat and talked, the kids ran and played with each other.  Not a bad thing!

Below are some of those kites that remained more on the ground than in the air!!

When a tire goes flat, you fix it.

The tire repairs were figured out and the resources gotten as soon as they were available (I had to wait a few hours, but eventually I got what was needed).

The disassembling of the back wheel took a few minutes more than I had expected.  I haven’t done this for a while – so even though there were no rusted parts, I was rusty and just figuring things out took time.

Finally, the tire was back in place and a breath of fresh air was pumped into the tire.  A slight flaw almost immediately popped the inner tube. 

So, I started all over again.  I got another inner tube and reset it on the rim.  This time it worked and I was out riding once again.

Sometimes the first try at fixing a problem may have a problem.  If at first you don’t succeed, find another inner tube!!

Last night was a bike scavenger hunt with our youth.  Great time!

Before leaving and joining  in on the hunt, I pumped up the front tire of my bicycle.  A month or so ago I noted that it had a slow leak.  The pressure was down somewhat, but an influx of new air pumped it right back up.

As we went throughout the hunt I watched the tire carefully.  No problem!

Approaching the final stretch something felt out of sorts.  The front tire continued in good shape.  Things were right there.

But not so on the strong back tire!  The tire I had chosen not to watch.  Perhaps we hit some shards of glass, or maybe something punctured through the outer tire and got to the inner tube.

I suppose the actual cause didn’t really matter.  I know enough of the caused for flat tires and I thought I had avoided them.  And next time out I will carry the same list in my head and try to miss the hazards. 

But last night I was left carrying my bicycle back.  Instead of carrying me into a journey of enjoyment, I was left thinking about what I needed to do to fix this tire.  I’m looking forward to fixing the back tire and getting back on the road.

This is a story of both a bicycle and a church.  In watching over a front tire, it seems a back tire has been flattened.  Where we go next is the next thing! 

May God give direction and wisdom!

The day ended with an ice cream birthday cake, 5 people, good humor and laughter.  Oh, and one of them was the birthday girl!  The picture we took will be available only to those present!!  Sorry – OK, not that sorry!