The other day I discovered that a hot tip that leads to new adventure can also lead to great disaster.

I had just finished a mountain bike ride when a friend told me of a new side trail that runs along the lake. He said it was really amazing.

A couple of days later I decided to ride that trail and brought my go-pro camera along thinking that maybe I would get some cool shots. 

Oh, I got some cool shots alright!

This side trail my friend told me about was a side trail off of the main trail that we usually ride. It was easy to miss. I rode right by it, stopped and went back.

When I got to the part of the trail that went along the lake, it was different than I had imagined it when he had described it to me. 

I thought it was right down by the water and that I would have a clear view of the lake. 

Not so. 

This trail was built on the side of a steep hill. And when I say the trail was “built”, I literally mean it. They actually had to build the trail like a shelf, using rocks and earth and tree logs to level a 2 1/2 foot wide trail through this very steep, almost straight down embankment to the water. 

You could see the water – but only through the trees – and it was about 40 – 50 feet down from the trail to the water’s edge. 

It was beautiful, but you needed to stay alert because there was no room for error. If you slipped off the trail, you’d go straight down.

I decided to set my camera up and film myself riding past it. 

The only problem with this trail was that you needed good momentum to be able to stay on it. Stopping to set up my camera removed any momentum I had had. 

I thought I would get some great shots … and I did. In fact, I got one shot that I was not anticipating. 

I rode my bike past my camera, but didn’t have the speed I needed to maintain my balance. When I came to a tight spot, I started to wobble and slipped off the trail … heading straight down. 

I got one foot out of my pedals, but there was nothing to step down onto.

I went over the edge, flipping down the hill until I was stopped by a rotting log and some tree branches. 

It was tough to make my way up the slippery hill to my bike and then to the trail.

My bike computer had also gotten knocked off my bike. I later found it 30 feet below me in the lake, just off the shore. 

But I did capture the first part of my fall on video, and you can check it out by clicking here to watch it on my YouTube channel. 

I ended up with some scrapes on my face, arms and leg, but other than that, God really protected me.

As for my hot tip about a great bike trail? It was a great new adventure, but also a great disaster. 

Here’s the thing: In life we are enticed to experience great adventures – adventures, that when played out, will ultimately lead to disaster. God invites us to His great adventure, which will be full of its share of difficult sections, as well as amazing, breath-taking trails. God’s adventure, however, will not lead to disaster … which can’t be said about other hot tips you may be enticed by.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What kind of an adventure are you on – one that leads to God or disaster? Leave your comments below.