Rich Dixon takes us back a few years to a bike tour.

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FREEDOM TOUR 2017 considered the notion of divine appointments.

We read the story of David and Goliath, and talked about the impact of small decisions.

How might this story (and Israel’s story) have been impacted if David refused Jesse’s request to deliver supplies (vs 17-19)?

David was entrusted with the family sheep business. Suppose David decided his father was too old and frail to leave alone.

At the time, David couldn’t have foreseen the eternal trajectory created by his choice to obey this apparently insignificant instruction.

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Our bike tours attract a lot of attention. People in brightly colored jerseys with words like “hope” and “freedom” doing crazy things like cycling up mountain passes tend to inspire “What are you guys up to?”

We’ve come to believe our tours are littered with divine appointments, opportunities created by Jesus to share about him and what we’re doing.

The problem is – during the ride, most of those encounters look like interruptions.

We have a destination and a plan. The team needs to stay together. Afternoon weather concerns. We’re tired. Any number of good reasons to avoid taking time to stop and listen.

Every team member recounted multiple instances when they’d been too focused on cycling to pay attention to what might have been a divine appointment.

Finally, someone asked a great question. “How do you know?”

It’s impossible to stop for every interruption, right? Nothing would get accomplished, the team would never reach the destination. How does one distinguish between frivolous and important?

My answer, when I’m at my best, is, “I can’t. Not without pausing.”

Sometimes that means being late, or getting separated from the team, or not even completing the ride. Jesus values people over plans and schedules.

Sadly, too frequently I’m not at my best. I’m certain I’ve hurried past numerous divine appointments.

And of course, none of this is really about cycling.

To be continued… there’s more to this story.