Palouse Falls

John is a guy I work with. He's a believer too, and we have had some pretty good conversations to deflect from the tedium at work - what's more he rides a motorcycle as well.

A little over a year ago, John and his wife Patty were looking for a church. I just happened to be getting baptized and invited them to come for the service. Now, I was originally baptized when I was 8 years old. I knew what it was, and what it meant at the time, but with a whole lot of water under the bridge since then, I felt the need to make a second public declaration of my commitment at 36. John and Patty came that Saturday night, and have been coming to Crossview ever since... they have new friends, a small group they attend regularly, and are looking for ways to pour their lives into the people around them.

So I asked John a few weeks back if he would like to go for a bike ride. He said sure, and that he have a buddy who would like to come along as well. We met and all I knew is that we were going to ride out to Palouse Falls, a waterfall that is out here in Eastern Washington, I had heard of it and seen pictures, but never been there. 

It was a beautiful day and we rode out through farmland and along the snake river, stopping for lunch and fuel in Starbuck. A few miles later, and here's a couple of photos... 

So this waterfall is practically in my backyard, and I've lived an hour away from it for 13 years and never took the drive there.

Silly? Isn't it? 

I am looking forward to taking the kids out there this summer, because you can hike down to the falls. There is a gravel road that runs from the highway to the falls. Gravel you might or might not know, is NOT a motorcyclists friend. The thing is, you have to be careful not to turn too sharp or rely on leaning to turn like you do on pavement, but you also can't go too slow... you have to maintain some speed to keep upright as well. 

Sometimes I think life is a lot like that.....we either take one look at the road to travel and decide we're not up to it.....or rush in unprepared and end up with road rash.... when all it takes is a little concentration and a steady pace to reach a goal or the next horizon.

I wonder how many other local and northwest attractions that I have overlooked or chosen to disregard? Things I've been too busy to do or didn't take the time for. Having to take a couple of Furlough days a month this summer is going to give me and the kids an opportunity to discover or re-discover life.. 

Just like a new friend and member of my fellowship found a more abundant life...partly because I asked if he wanted to share a moment in my life and come watch my baptism.

John and I and his friend enjoyed the ride, on one of the first real warm days of the late spring. I'm excited to continue to get out to find what else is out there for me to discover... in life and on my bike. 

Just like this gem in the middle of the eastern washington desert, what else lies down just a a couple miles of gravel road?