Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, THINK about such things. (Phil. 4:8)

These words, written from a Roman prison by Paul around 60 AD, have been on my mind for weeks. It’s obvious that we can choose what we think about, but what is less obvious is how those choices determine what we feel, say, and do. It is true that everything starts with a thought.

When I prepared for our cycle trip to the forest this morning, I could already see the dirt track through the trees that leads up to that lovely lawn where we’ve had some of our best frisbee sessions. Having cycled there multiple times, the combination of the woods and the stillness holds memories I strive to relive at least once a year.

However, when my son, a colleague’s father, and I reached the gate, we were refused entry. Disappointment initially had me quarreling with the gatekeeper, but soon the perspective that God knows what is best helped me rethink the day. The guard was simply following a new rule, and obeying the government was the right thing to do. Our frustration turned into a friendly chat and a new plan – especially once we learned the reason for the prohibition was the known presence of leopards in the area!

We diverted to Leisure Valley. It was perfectly quiet, not even a whisper of a breeze. In the warmth of the winter sun, we stood in a large triangle and threw the frisbee. There is a pure pleasure in watching a well-thrown disc soar straight and true, and all three of us were excellent at it.

On the ride back, we took the shaded bicycle lanes that Chandigarh keeps in such good condition. The traffic was predictable because people actually obey the lights; it’s admirable how the administration maintains the cameras that encourage such discipline on the roads.

My son had been noble in his suffering, riding a heavy bicycle after lending his lighter mountain bike to our guest. Our guest may be over sixty, but he is tough as nails – a true adventurer with a trans-American cycle trip to his credit.

We reached home with the elation of good exercise and renewed friendship. It felt like a mini-holiday for the mind. I praise God for granting another perfect day out and think again about that verse from Philippians. It’s not just our bodies that need training; our minds need it even more. It takes practice to focus on the good things.