It’s Just Like Riding a Bike

Not long after moving here, Jason decided he would like an e-bike.  (For those of you who are ignorant like I was, an e-bike is just a bicycle with a motor, which really comes in handy when one has to climb the many hills around here.). Anyway, the e-bike makes a lot of sense.  Being only five miles from town, Jason can easily ride into town to pick up things, drop items off, or conduct any other business he may have.  It’s also been a great tool for our letterboxing ministry as he can ride up and down the streets, neighborhoods, and farm roads and distribute our church literature to the mailboxes of each home.

I had no hesitations about him getting an e-bike other than that he had to promise me he would always wear his helmet.  Otherwise, if he wanted to ride a bike, I was all for it.  That was, until, he discovered he enjoyed it so much he wanted me to get an e-bike too, so we could go on rides together.  Oh, joy!

After months of my hubby excitedly talking about the many places we could ride together, I finally conceded and allowed him to get me an e-bike.  A few days ago, I had my first unofficial lesson.

You know the old saying, “It’s just like riding a bike,” which implies if you’ve done it before you’ll never forget?  Well, while my mind and body may not have forgotten how to ride a bicycle, neither do they respond and react the same way they did over thirty years ago.  Trust me.  I have the bruises to prove it.

I kept confusing the throttle with the brake.  I couldn’t seem to remember how to mount and dismount the bike.  The crazy thing felt like it weighed a zillion pounds, and my whole body was shaking in fear.  It was not my finest moment.

Jason patiently gave me instructions and tried his best to help me understand what I was doing wrong and how to fix it.  He told me the same things so many times that I knew exactly what to do.  However, whenever my fear rose to a new level, and I felt out of control, I forgot everything I thought I knew and reacted in default mode.

Hmm, I guess life is just like riding a bike.  So often, we know what to do and what not to do, but when things feel out of control, we react in whatever way comes most naturally.  We snap at people.  We avoid the world and shut ourselves off from everyone.  We inhale an entire bag of cookies and wash it down with a tub of ice cream.  We forget to pray, to go to God’s Word for answers, or to seek the advice of someone we can trust.  What’s up with that?

I’ll be honest with you, after that first catastrophe of a lesson, I was ready to say, “Nope!  I’m not a teenager anymore, and this is definitely not my thing.”  But I know this is something that means a lot to Jason.  He asks so very little of me, the least I can do is give this a try.  And that means persevering beyond a single practice, despite the bruises, aches, and pains.  And hopefully, Jason’s encouragement will come to fruition, and the entire process will start to come naturally to me instead of me having to think so hard about every single thing.

The same is true for our Christian walk.  We can’t give up after a few spills and bruises.  We need to keep trying.  It’s important to our Lord and Savior.  He really hasn’t asked us for much.  Surely, it’s the least we can do for Him, right?  And while practice may not make perfect, hopefully, it will keep us upright a little more often.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I need to do a little shopping for some knee pads. . .and elbow pads. . .and maybe a neck brace.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. - Galatians 6:9