“I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it. People think pleasing God is all God cares about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back.” ― Alice Walker
1985 The Color Purple: Directed by Steven Spielberg.
I love this scene from the movie The color purple. Cecily, played by American actor, Whoopies Goldberg and Shug Avery played by American actress Margaret Avery, walking through a field of purple flowers. When Shug explains why a person should stop and notice something that God has designed and created to capture our attention, like the color purple.
A few weeks ago, I saw a post on the Women of On-Road Facebook Group that caught my attention. It was a poem by Kare Gray entitled “Counting My Blessings.” I call it A Color Purple Post because it captured my attention when I needed a gentle reminder of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Unfailing love for me….Enjoy!
Kare Gray, is from Surrey British Columbia and rides a Can-Am Ryker Rally 900
Counting My Blessings
by Kare Gray
I can count my blessings on both hands which is many more than some others can.
There was a time when my legs gave out, and a wheelchair is what I thought would help. But because I live in a world that’s ahead, surgery put me on my feet instead!
I have the blessings of two special beings, my beautiful daughters, who share my own feelings. A bond of love that will last forever and stay in our hearts forever and ever.
A sister and family that were always there in my dark and deep moments of despair. All them I will always place in my heart. There will be nothing that will ever pull us apart.
Also the blessing of a man who’s heart is pure, who will love me until the end I am so sure. Who I will love forever and more because this man is the one I surely adore.
My home that I own is a place of solitude, where I am most comfortable no matter the mood. Where gardens grow by my own hand, making life a brilliant spectrum of love of land. Away from the crowd and with nature itself, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
Friends and family all around me today, so many names, too many to say. But all of them play a very large part of making me live with a very full heart.
My pets that I care for in my home are always there, so I’m never alone. Always willing to give their affection with such vigor and love, never rejection.
The work that I do is considered important! I am helping humanity and being supportant. I love what I do, and I do it well. Which is a blessing that makes my heart swell.
Well that is eight, and I know there is more. With the life that I have so much more to explore. I thank God from the heavens above for giving me all the things I so dearly love.
I Thank God from the heavens above for giving me all the things I so dearly love
Kare Gray
May the Joy of the Lord instantly become your strength to encourage you to overcome any fears that you might experience. Remember, in our daring to be brave, when we throw caution to the wind, casting our cares in Faith upon Him through the ride. Peace, love, and joy are set loose in the atmosphere, and it permits other riders to do the same. Allowing us to all rejoice in knowing we have triumphant victory in Riding the Good Ride of Faith.
If this post ministered to you or encourage you in any way, please share with your fellow Wind Sisters.
Be strong and of good courage, LaShaun and Mrs. Cavatica
Time is precious. Time is valuably sacred because it is a commodity that you cannot ever get back if wasted. So as a new rider to the motorcycle riding community and a woman daring to be brave riding my Can-Am Spyder on the open roads, it is essential to me to invest my Time where my ride and faith Matters.
I was reminded today that not everything deserves your Time, and not every Group deserves your presence, when a clipart I posted today was flagged and all comments were blocked by one of the Lady Spyder Riding Facebook Groups. Now, the average person these days would take offense, but when you are seeking how and where to invest your time, you thank God for Confirmation. You shake the dust off your feet, pick up your mat and move on. Do not spend any more time there. I like how the bible puts it in Matthew 7:6 “Do not cast your pearls before swine,”. In other words do not give or offer something valuble to someone who do not understand it’s value.
Thought To Ponder
Our Time is our greatest Weapon when it comes to fighting fear when we set out to Ride the Good Ride of Faith. And when Time is spent uselessly, we cannot ever get any of it back.
This image was flagged and all comments were removed and blocked from one of the Lady Spyder Facebook Groups.
Let us consider this. Every Time our leg straddles our motorcycles, and our kickstands go up in the air could be the last Time we ride. So, any words of encouragement or prayers for safety are always welcomed when it comes to me riding the open roads.
Every weekend, thousands of women take to the open road on their Spyders, Rykers, Rallys, Trikes, and Motorcycles. I always pray that everyone makes it back to their home and loved ones safe and sound. Mostly all of them do…but some of them do not.
So, when prayers or inspirational words are expressed and rejected, where danger and the Spirit of fear torment the hearts of women, daring to be brave while riding their bike on the open road…I question the care, concern, and commitment to me as a fellow wind Sister.
This picture and post about how my Spyder got her name was also pulled from one of the Lady Spyder Riding Facebook Groups.
As Women, Time is our most valuable commodity, and since Time is irreversible and irreplaceable, we as women should carefully consider how we spend our days and even our minutes. Time is our gift from God; we are not the owners of it but stewards of it, and we will one day be held accountable for how we used what God has entrusted to us.
As a Woman of Faith, and a new rider to the motorcycle community, I would like to encourage my fellow wind sisters to invest Time in the things and people that fuel your Ride. Invest Time where your soul is fed, your heart is inspired, your hope is ignited, and your Faith is sparked and allowed to be sprinkled with GOD. Dare you fall off your bikes; words of Faith will reach out to pull you up and back upon your bike again.
Declaration of Faith for Investing My Time
My Father in Heaven, please show me what I am investing my Life in. If it is not fuelling my Faith and the desire to know you more and all the benefits of giving you my heart, please help me exchange it for something that will. Lord, instruct me and teach me to number my days so that I may gain a heart of wisdom. Bring order to my mind and my Life and keep me focused on the essentials that fed my soul, inspire my heart, ignite my hope, and spark my Faith, as I Ride The Good Ride of Faith. In Jesus Name… Amen.
Psalm 90:12; Psalm 25:4-5
May the Joy of the Lord instantly become your strength to encourage you to overcome any fears that you might experience. Remember, in our daring to be brave, when we throw caution to the wind, casting our cares in Faith upon Him through the ride. Peace, love, and joy are set loose in the atmosphere, and it permits other riders to do the same. Allowing us to all rejoice in knowing we have triumphant victory in Riding the Good Ride of Faith.
If this post ministered to you or encourage you in any way, please share with your fellow Wind Sisters.
Be strong and of good courage, LaShaun and Mrs. Cavatica
It has been months, maybe even years, you have been dreaming, hoping, wishing, and praying for the Can-Am bike of your dreams. Prayers sprinkled with countless hours of research on the perfect 3-wheel Can-Am make and model that suits your style, personality, and budget. But you did! You finally narrowed the decision down and purchased the bike of your dreams.
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose. Psalm 20:4 NKJV
I know that feeling oh too well. You see, before I got Mrs. Cavatica, I spent many nights scrolling the Can-Am Women of On-Road Facebook group. Stalking every women’s page for photos of their bikes. I had watched every YouTube video of all the Can-Am makes and model reviews, learning the difference between them before settling on a 2020 Spyder F3T that had to be pearl white with black accents.
You see, when I joined the Can-Am Women of On-Road Facebook group in May of 2020, all I had was hope, a wish, and a prayer. But I also had a picture of the bike I wanted on my vision board next to my bed. I was raised old school by a Grand Mother who taught me if you want something, you got to “Name It! And then Claim It! And then believe
My 2020 Vision Board
God for it” Act! As if you already have it. While scrolling through the Can-Am Women of On-Road Facebook group and other Spyder groups, I noticed almost all the women had names for their Spyders, Rykers, and Rallys. Names like Lucy, Butterfly, Blue Beauty, Black Beauty, Pearl, Itsy Bitsy, Brooklyn, and Angel.
I thought I was the only one who believed in giving inanimate objects names. But I was not; I have always believed that if you provide a name for a thing that is designed to get you from point A to point B safely, such as a car, a boat, a truck, a bike, or a motorcycle, you charge it with a mission to keep you safe. The subject of naming a 3-wheel bike is a contentious one. People feel strongly on both sides. Some think giving a name to an inanimate object is downright, flat-out crazy; for others, it is as important as naming your firstborn child.
Cindy Oaks Porter, Whitehall Maryland and her Spyder Angel. Cindy sent me a beautiful message late one night on how she found her Spyder, Angel and how Angel got its name.
Just about every woman who joins a 3-wheel Facebook group asks for help naming their bikes. What should I name my Ryker? Can someone give me a name for my Spyder? Does anyone have any suggestions on a name for my Rally? Questions such as these always poke the mama bear in me. Why would anyone want someone else to name their baby their blessing, their bike? After all, they did not spend countless hours hoping, wishing, praying for that blessing…you did! It was not their bold, tenacious, relentless, crazy Faith that kept believe for something no one else could see but you.
I chose the name Mrs. Cavatica for my Can-Am Sypder F3T. Charlotte A. Cavatica, to be exact! Myself. As a matter of fact, my bike had a name before I had my bike. Remember Charlotte? The friendly, clever spider of Charlotte’s Web? Charlotte was a spider’s spider, a character who taught us something profound about love, commitment, friendship, and speaking prophetically over someone’s life.
My 2020 Can-Am Spyder F3T Mrs. Cavatica, Charlotte A. Cavatica
I loved the relationship Wilbur and Charlotte had; when Wilbur needed someone to speak up for him and save his life, Charlotte was right there. Like E.B White said, “It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and good writer. Charlotte was both.” Charlotte literally spoke life over Wilbur. Words that made Mr. Zuckerman take notice that Wilber’s life was of value. He was Some Pig! Terrific, Radiant, and Humble.
Charlotte’s Web is a book of children’s literature by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams; it was published on October 15, 1952, by Harper & Brothers. 1973 Animation movie directed by Charles A. Nichols
If I stood any chance of throwing caution to the wind while daring to be brave Riding the Good Ride of Faith, I want to make sure my bike had a name worthy and brave enough of taking on the ride with me. So, with all this being said… If you are struggling with naming your 3-wheel bike, here is what I would like to suggest.
“Names have power.” – Rick Riordan, The Lighten Thief
First, find a nice quiet spot to sit and relax with a nice hot cup of tea, coffee, or whatever beverage that will allow you to chill out.
Second, look back over your life. What were some of the most challenging battles in life you have fought and won? How did it make you feel when you came out the victor? Think about how God showed up on your behalf time and time again and turned the tide of the battle around in your favor when it seemed all hope would be lost. Write those feeling down.
Next, keep a mental note on how you feel when riding your bike alone or on a group ride. Close your eyes, take a deep breath in, exhale and mentally ride your bike. How does it make you feel? And if you had to give that feeling a name, what would you call it. Spend some time just sitting on your bike (not standing) and praying over your bike, getting to know it, and familiarizing yourself with all its bells and whistles.
This will aid you in naming your bike. The bike that you Hoped for, wished for and prayed for and if you must ask anyone for help, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you in selecting a name for your bike.
I believe in my heart that God knew we would desire a 3-wheel bike at some point in our lives. After all, He made us and knows everything about us “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” — Jeremiah 1:5
God hears our prayers and requests in line with His will (1 John 5:14), so of course, I believe He will guide you towards a name that best fits your bike, based on your journey and where you are in the chapters and seasons of your life.
Declaration of Guidance Prayer
Faithful God, I know every good and perfect gift comes from you. You have consistently supplied all my needs. When you told me to ask, I was given. When you told me to seek, I found. When you told me to knock, your door was open to me.
Lord, I ask you for guidance and direction-finding a name for my (say the name of your bike). You are a perfect Father, Faithful in everything, who only ever gives good gifts to his children, and you love to give good gifts to your children who ask. As your humble child, I ask that you give me a name for my (say the name of your bike) so as bike and rider, we might become one in Riding the Good Ride of Faith together.
In Jesus Name, I Pray, Amen!
James 1:17, Philippians 4:19, Matthew 7:7-8
May the Joy of the Lord instantly become your strength to encourage you to overcome any fears that you might experience. Remember, in our daring to be brave, when we throw caution to the wind, casting our cares in Faith upon Him through the ride. Peace, love, and joy are set loose in the atmosphere, and it permits other riders to do the same. Allowing us to all rejoice in knowing we have triumphant victory in Riding the Good Ride of Faith.
If this post ministered to you or encourage you in any way, please share with your fellow Wind Sisters.
Be strong and of good courage, LaShaun and Mrs. Cavatica
We are all connected in sacred circle of the glorious ride.
Waking up one morning, I scrolled through Facebook. I noticed that one of our Wind Sisters departed from her life on May 1st, International Female Ride Day. Someone had posted a beautiful video montage of her personal life. I am sure it could have been deservedly a featured film because every life is a fascinating story jammed packed with memorable experiences. As I examined the brief video, I observed the confident smile on her fierce face.
The pink mirrored aviator sunglasses that I am sure she went to great lengths to pick out. Her lovely long silvered hair and her gorgeous Harley-Davidson motorcycle that you could undoubtedly tell she took great pride within. Personally, I did not know her, but I wanted to find out what happened to her; I googled her name only to find out a distracted driver hit her head-on, claiming her life. Typically, when you hear of such tragedies like this, you do not experience a connection. Referring to the posted comments from people associated with her, that road with her, and loved her. I realized that “We are all connected in the sacred circle of the glorious ride.”
The gentle air she breathes in and out of her lungs when she rides cautiously is the same air I breathe when I ride. The prevailing winds that she cuts through every time she mounts her Harley are the same wind that I cut through and enjoy when I ride my Spyder. The youthful energy and essence that she brings to the ride on the open road are the gifts I receive every time I ride my ride. It is passed on, left in the atmosphere for other riders to experience. I think every rider provides and surrenders a part of themselves to the ride, their minds, bodies, and souls.
This is what connects us all in the sacred circle of the glorious ride, and when that circle breaks, when one of our feathers has fallen, we steer a little lighter. Our fallen Wind Sister was one of the brilliant feathers in our mighty wings. That feather was unexpectantly taken and softly landed in another sacred space and time we have yet to be called to. I am sure many birds can fly, minus a feather, but they know that one is missing. I detected that loss when I contemplate the video montage of her. I felt as though my wings were just a little lighter due to the one brilliant feather missing. In the motorcycle community, the eagle is recognized as a symbol representing American patriotism, strength, tenacity, and fearlessness when riding on the open roads. When I think of an eagle’s wing, I think of each of us as an extension of that eagle’s wing…A brilliant feather.
“In the tapestry of life, we’re all connected. Each one of us is a gift to those around us, helping each other be who we are, weaving a perfect picture together.”
~Anita Moorjani
We are all connected, like the brilliant feathers of a mighty eagle’s wing. In a practical sense, our bikes are that eagle, and we, as riders, are like the feathers. When one of our feathers has inevitably fallen, there is a noticeable absence that is felt. Although we can still ride with one of our feathers missing, it is, nevertheless, a loss. A new feather will typically grow in its specific place, like a new rider, learning how to ride cautiously, purchasing a bike, and carefully taking to the open road. We undoubtedly gain new riders every day, or dare I justly say, we gain new feathers every day. So, Wind Sisters, enjoy the ride you get today, and let us pray for each other, new riders, and the fallen feathers we have lost along the way. Intentionally let us make sure we offer one another the “Bikers Wave” when we pass a fellow rider because yesterday’s ride is gone. Tomorrow’s ride is never promised…We only ride for today!
May the Joy of the Lord instantly become your strength to encourage you to overcome any fears that you might experience. Remember, in our daring to be brave, when we are seen throwing caution to the wind, casting our cares in Faith upon Him through the ride. Peace, love, and joy are set loose in the atmosphere, and it gives other riders permission to do the same. Allowing us to all rejoice in knowing we have triumphant victory in Riding the Good Ride of Faith.
If this post ministered to you or encourage you in any way, please share with your fellow Wind Sisters.
Be strong and of good courage as you Ride the Good Ride of Faith, LaShaun and Mrs. Cavatica
Go Before Us Prayer
My Heavenly Father, King of Glory, before I (we) take to the open road, I (we) ask you to go before me (us) and clear the streets and roads that I (we) will ride. Father God, remove any and every obstacle that may block me (us) from reaching my (our) destination safely. Father, may my (our) eyes become sharp like the eyes of an eagle so that I (we) may see anything that would cause me harm or that could cause an accident for me (us) on the road. Father God, I (we) know that when I (we) pray, you hear me (us). So, I (we) have complete confidence in You and Your Word that I am (we are) covered with Your feathers, and under Your wings, I am (we) are safe. In Jesus’ name, I (we) believe and pray, Amen. Psalms 91:4
Adventures of Fearless Faith 