Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?“

The wind was not that harsh, but the chill increased the faster we traveled. Even with the cold, my senses were on fire and I loved it. I smelled deep the desert air with the wild junipers and angry skunks. I saw the vast valley east of our little Rocky chain. Miles of land, animals, and people living out their hopes or simply surviving.

The roar of the engine when his hand turned the throttle echoed through my body. I gave myself to this space, this time to enjoy a new and different adventure.

And I clutched the leather jacket of the man who holds my life most sacred. And this is romantic, right? The back of a motorcycle with arms around the man I love. His kind hands controlling the bike and my life.

I beheld nature’s unfolding beauty. The desert land turns brown and yellow in the autumn season. The wild weeds gently sway while the deciduous trees drop their coloured leaves and the evergreens stand in contrast. I spied birds flying in a mystical dance reflecting the sunlight. They turned and cloaked to the colour of the sky. Reappearing a few moments later like their dance was never interrupted. Some lazy cows chewed cud under the lowering Sun. A dead skunk, squirrel, and horse reminded me that the desert is still a dangerous place.

A clever land owner took dried wood and made three wild tree animals, gargoyleish dragons, to guard their property. Other homeowners shared flags to encourage the lonely motorcycle on whom to vote.  A man watered plants through a fence in a small town no one heard of unless you take a detour away from the main roads.

I became a part of the road and land and the tangled mess of leading away and around to dead ends and beautiful beginnings. The vista was achingly open, I was reminded of my son who at five captured a similar scene. At the apex of the mountain, opened to the valley below, he stated emphatically, “Wow, I’m big.” And I was. I filled the vastness and felt the vastness fill me.

The autumn blue sky drank me in deep. Floating on the radiant wonder of sky and landscape, my heart and soul soared. I felt the energy of the Sun on my body and the form of my man near me. And the various bumps in the road.

The meditative sound of the wind was broken once with a train traveling through this desert land. When I concentrated, I could hear the wheels interacting with the road. Though I couldn’t hear the music my dear man was listening to, I saw his head keep time.

At times, I don’t know how, but he makes me fall even more in love with him.

The road through the desert and up the mountain to the cute get-away town was an adventure. Cold, but overall, good. Only a couple of moments when semis would pass causing vortices that would shake our little bike and my nerves. A most deserved reward was a hot tub and a glass of wine.

I had to reflect on how great the trip to the cabin was. Straightforward, satisfying, stable. We traveled with my husband’s brother and his wife. We enjoyed our adventure to the cute cabin. And the next day, my sister-in-law and I enjoyed hiking, reading, talking, logic puzzles, and relaxing while the brothers went further into the mountain on a brotherly motorcycle adventure.

Relationships are rewarding. My time with my sister-in-law was just that. I know we would never have chosen each other as friends. But family makes interesting dynamics. I really love her and she me. We just don’t always like each other. We carefully walk the line of enjoying conversation and saying something that will start a fight. We both cross the line sometimes.

Perhaps it is because we both love Jesus more than we dislike each other’s quirkiness that we honestly enjoy our time together. And are probably becoming friends more than just sisters-in-law.

John 13: 34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Relationships are challenging in deed and in word. We had a few tough conversations, but we both know the Word that guards hearts and minds in peace. And we remember kindness.

Kindness is worth remembering yet the last thing to be remembered when life gets challenging.

Morning came to travel back down the mountain through the desert lands to the backside of our Rockies.

Morning came with winds fierce and clouds ominous.

Morning came to remind us that winter weather was coming that evening.

Morning came with my nerves wrecked and my self-control shaken.

Morning came with my thoughts focused on fear and worry.

All my thoughts of love and kindness were gone when I got on the back of the bike with the man, I gave my life to. This wind that knocked me standing still, whipped around me during the descent. Every turn, every throttle pull shook my core. Rather than peace, I was filled with anger and rage over the man who decided my fate and the elements I could not control. A few strong gusts over took my rationality and rather than holding tight to him, I flailed and punched. At one point, he yelled. I have no idea what he said, but that didn’t matter.

I was angry.

Ephesians 4: 31-32 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.“

So, I stopped. I wouldn’t touch him, I wouldn’t look at him, I wouldn’t be close to him, I wouldn’t be kind to him. The ease with which I could go from deep love to uncaring cold scares me. I rationalized that my fear was enough to justify my actions. To get as far away from him on the back of a motorcycle. To let go of his leather jacket and hold resentment.

To be mean towards the man who holds my life sacred.

He is a more honourable man than any I have ever met. He pulled the bike over once we got off the windy, windy road and let me be angry. I walked with the wind away from bikes and people and reality. A moment later, he approached. Not in judgement, not in anger, not in hurt, but in kindness and in love. And somehow, that got me back on the bike. The rest of the ride home was windy, a bit chilly, and safe because he holds my heart in his loving care.

At times, I don’t know how, but he makes me fall even more in love with him.

I melt in his loving kindness.

I am humbled by the loving kindness I find in my relationships with others.

I am overwhelmed by the loving kindness of God.

Moments like this remind me to take a breath. To experience loving kindness on the back of a motorcycle reminds me of the holiness of time and space and the good grace of God.