Four Leaf Clovers and Fellowship

On Saturday, March 17, we celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a ride starting in Arlington known as the McClinchy Mile. Nobody is really sure how long a McClinchy Mile is, but if it's anything close to a statute mile, then we rode 47 of 'em.

The thing I liked most about this ride--and any of the rides our group does together--is the fellowship. On this particular ride, we enjoyed great conversation with a few new folks: Rick S., Kristine V., and Milan. We also had some of the regulars: Bryant, Kristin, Gary, Jay, John H. and myself. The weather was a bit cyclical (dry, wet, dry, wet, and then very wet), but during the dry periods and even during some of the rain, we had a chance to visit on the bike and really engage in interesting topics ranging from Southeast Asia (John H. spent a portion of his childhood) to how small Rick's saddle is. We always discuss which rides we plan to do this year, how our training has been so far, and what bikes we're currently longing for. But, since this is a Christian shared-interest small group, our interests that we share go well beyond just cycling.


Those shared interests center on Christ and His purposes both in our lives locally and across the globe. Several of us have a heart for foreign missions, so our conversations will drift toward upcoming missions trips (Bryant and Gary both will be in Manila, Philippines at the end of this month). Or, we may talk about a recent sermon at Eastside Foursquare Church. But, best of all, we just talk with each other, encouraging, listening, lifting up, and building up one another. "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

So, as we dried off and climbed back into our van with the heater blazing for the return trip back to Bothell, I silently thanked the Lord for good friends who not only enjoyed the same activity with me, but far more importantly, enjoyed a passionate life serving and following the same Lord with me. That's true fellowship. Don't you agree?