If you think God's not talking to you...you're just not listening.

Today I decided to bike the long haul on the Withlahoochie State Trail. This trail is 46 miles long and is one of the longest trails in Florida. When I make it a point to get on the bike, it's generally when I need clarity of mind. Wearing myself out physically generally helps me to cope with the rest of the week. It's also at these times of solitude that I tend to talk to God more than at other times. After all, when you're flying down a trail in the middle of the woods, God's creation is much more noticeable than when flying down the highway in the middle of traffic. I noticed several turtles, some goats on a farm, a giant woodpecker (which was REALLY cool) and the typical turtle doves and squirrels. A plethora of butterflies were sprinkled throughout the 26-mile-ride. At about 13 miles in, I began thinking how cool it would be to see some deer or a bear, or maybe even some cubs. Sure enough, after I rounded a couple of corners a deer came into sight. And then another. They sprang off into the woods once I neared, accompanied by a flurry of doves.

There's nothing like removing yourself from the daily grind of t.v., traffic, commercials, and politics to remember what life is really about. Surrounding yourself with nature, if only for a few hours is enough to bring you back to the delicate nature of life. Take time to breathe and get your heart pumping once in awhile. It will recharge your drained and disgruntled body. Anyway, back to the ride.... I was coming up on the point where I should turn around, or I'd never make it back in one piece. I was still hoping that God would reveal a bear or some other rare woodland creature. But my mind was really set on the bear....and that's when I saw a camel. I don't think any other animal would have been more unexpected except for snuffleupagus himself. It's at these times that I know God is talking. And it was at this time that I saw His incredible sense of humor. He's always revealing things to you, but it's up to you to listen. Instead of thinking, 'weird-a camel', I thought "I wanted to see a bear, and God showed me a camel-that's so much better!" The closeness of God is sometimes incredible. If you think that God doesn't have time to listen to each individual person or prayer, then you're thinking in the limited terms in which humans are meant to think. Recognizing when God is talking to us is really not that difficult. Just as you should stop and smell the roses, it's important to stop and really listen as well. Take Him into the context of your daily life and you will see evidence that He is there. He might even show you something better than what you could have hoped for.