Finding hope in a 10 speed bicycle........
Greetings! It has been a while since my last blog. Too long! So much is going on in the world. There are bombings everywhere, we have South Korea test firing missiles and here in the United States, we had the terrible tragedy in Orlando. And then most recently the shootings in Dallas, Louisiana and Minnesota resulting in huge division that is happening throughout OUR country: white, blue, black.....it breaks my heart. I think we can all use a little hope, yes?
So I wanted to take you back to a time where I found hope in my 10 speed bicycle. Now although this was a different time for some of you younger readers, I think you will be able to relate and maybe get a chuckle or two.
I remember the Christmas that I got my 10 speed bicycle. Oh the doors I knew that bike would open, all I had to do was wait 6 months for summer. (6 months!) I digress. During those 6 months I dreamed of all of the places that I would be able to go on that bike. You see, my neighborhood was full of old people, only a couple of young kids, and who wanted to play with the twerp next door?! (Did I just say that out loud?) Oh well, he was fine to play with until I got a 10 speed, because then I could go to play with my friends who lived far away. I'm just kidding btw, my neighbor was a nice young man (especially if he is reading this ;), but who can't relate to wanting to go further, beyond, go do the next thing in life?
For those of you who are younger, things were different when I was growing up. The boundary for one's bicycle wasn't the end of the driveway, it wasn't even the end of the block, we could ride the entire neighborhood which could be a couple of miles long and wide. We even rode to other neighborhoods! We woke up by 8, we were gone by 9 and we didn't return home until dark. Oh those were the days. :)
We thought we were so grown up. We would stop by the local drug store and buy an icee, maybe a pop, always Dr. Pepper, snickers, jolly ranchers, and occasionally a snowball to share. The old saying, "We didn't have a care in the world." That fit. Google's online definition of hope is "the feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen." Interestingly, an archaic definition according to google is "trust." Every day when we got together as friends to ride our 10 speeds, we trusted that we would have a great time together, we enjoyed the freedom of being on our own and traveling far distances, but most of all....being joyful.
One day, my friend Rhonda and I were riding together on her 10 speed. I was riding on her handle bars and we had just stopped at the drug store. I can't remember how many drinks we were riding with, but I know at least one, plus the standard snickers and jolly ranchers as well as the coveted snowball to share! :) We were clipping along at good pace down this side street, laughing at who knows what, with all of our goodies, and Rhonda lost control of the bike. Now, remember, I am on the handle bars. The bike began to whip to the left and to the right, "whoop, whoop." and the next thing you know, somehow her 10 speed tire ended up in between a car and it's metal bumper! Good Gravy! Don't ask me how in the world that happened, because the space between the car and the bumper was barely enough to fit that tire, yet as fast as we were going, somehow that tire ended up in that itty bitty space! Since I was on the handle bars, I went flying into the air landing on the pavement and Rhonda ran into the bike and into the side of the vehicle. We both are probably still scared on our knees and elbows today. Up we pop, mad, who's fault was it?! How quickly things can turn, huh? But, hope is restored, we see our smashed snowball and it has to be eaten....bummer. Forever friends again, as we share our snowball. I mean, come on! That creamy filling, chocolate cake and marshmallow and coconut outer shell. Ahh, we sat there and laughed until our guts hurt. Still today we get to laughing so hard about that event.
I can't tell you how fondly I look back on those memories with my friends and our 10 speed bike rides. As a kid, it gave me hope in things to come. But the hope I gained from my 10 speed bike is fleeting. I look at the situation with Rhonda and I; our split second anger and then quick return to laughter. That did not come from my 10 speed, it came out of love; friendship.
I look upon the division that is happening in our country right now and people keep asking, what should we do? When at the same time, Jesus Christ is being taken out of our schools, our businesses, our churches. In John 4, Jesus, tired from walking, sits at a well. He asks a Samaritan woman drawing water from the well for a drink. He tells her that everyone that drinks out of the well will thirst again, but those who believe in him, will be given a living water and will have eternal life. This does not mean that a little girl cannot find hope in a 10 speed bike, but when we look at our nation today, it is going to take more that a 10 speed bike to find hope.
Our hope is in the LORD! As Christians we know that Christ has overcome death and wins in the end. (1 Cor 15:54-58) And I think that every day you should shout this scripture and others to the rooftops to assure yourself that all is well. But maybe you are saying, but today, right now, I look to my left and to my right and it is discouraging. For today, what do I do?
I get it, it is discouraging. But if you are a believer in Christ, you are his hands and feet. I simply do not believe that division brings unity. I know that seems like a simple comment, but, the bible talks about discussing our struggles in "truth and in love." When love is gone, then the truth evaporates and sides are drawn. Christ came for all of us. This day is no different to me than in the early days of Christianity. After Christ resurrected, he returned to task Saul (who later went by Paul) with converting Gentiles or non-Jews to Christianity. The evil one (Satan) did not want that to happen and strife or disunity happened in and outside the Christian community. For example, Jews that followed Christ didn't want non-Jews to follow the faith so they continually called out their differences and made them feel inferior. I believe the same is happening today. We can take sides and blame whoever we want, but in the end, it is Satan trying to create division among this Christian nation. We must turn to Christ, and Christ alone to mend our hearts and build a bridge with others. Christ gives us our greatest command to love God and love one another. (Matt 22:36-40) So what can we do today to find peace and hope? I will close with a portion of Paul's closing appeal for steadfastness and unity to the church of Philippi:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.(Phil 4:4-9)
So I wanted to take you back to a time where I found hope in my 10 speed bicycle. Now although this was a different time for some of you younger readers, I think you will be able to relate and maybe get a chuckle or two.
I remember the Christmas that I got my 10 speed bicycle. Oh the doors I knew that bike would open, all I had to do was wait 6 months for summer. (6 months!) I digress. During those 6 months I dreamed of all of the places that I would be able to go on that bike. You see, my neighborhood was full of old people, only a couple of young kids, and who wanted to play with the twerp next door?! (Did I just say that out loud?) Oh well, he was fine to play with until I got a 10 speed, because then I could go to play with my friends who lived far away. I'm just kidding btw, my neighbor was a nice young man (especially if he is reading this ;), but who can't relate to wanting to go further, beyond, go do the next thing in life?
For those of you who are younger, things were different when I was growing up. The boundary for one's bicycle wasn't the end of the driveway, it wasn't even the end of the block, we could ride the entire neighborhood which could be a couple of miles long and wide. We even rode to other neighborhoods! We woke up by 8, we were gone by 9 and we didn't return home until dark. Oh those were the days. :)
We thought we were so grown up. We would stop by the local drug store and buy an icee, maybe a pop, always Dr. Pepper, snickers, jolly ranchers, and occasionally a snowball to share. The old saying, "We didn't have a care in the world." That fit. Google's online definition of hope is "the feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen." Interestingly, an archaic definition according to google is "trust." Every day when we got together as friends to ride our 10 speeds, we trusted that we would have a great time together, we enjoyed the freedom of being on our own and traveling far distances, but most of all....being joyful.
One day, my friend Rhonda and I were riding together on her 10 speed. I was riding on her handle bars and we had just stopped at the drug store. I can't remember how many drinks we were riding with, but I know at least one, plus the standard snickers and jolly ranchers as well as the coveted snowball to share! :) We were clipping along at good pace down this side street, laughing at who knows what, with all of our goodies, and Rhonda lost control of the bike. Now, remember, I am on the handle bars. The bike began to whip to the left and to the right, "whoop, whoop." and the next thing you know, somehow her 10 speed tire ended up in between a car and it's metal bumper! Good Gravy! Don't ask me how in the world that happened, because the space between the car and the bumper was barely enough to fit that tire, yet as fast as we were going, somehow that tire ended up in that itty bitty space! Since I was on the handle bars, I went flying into the air landing on the pavement and Rhonda ran into the bike and into the side of the vehicle. We both are probably still scared on our knees and elbows today. Up we pop, mad, who's fault was it?! How quickly things can turn, huh? But, hope is restored, we see our smashed snowball and it has to be eaten....bummer. Forever friends again, as we share our snowball. I mean, come on! That creamy filling, chocolate cake and marshmallow and coconut outer shell. Ahh, we sat there and laughed until our guts hurt. Still today we get to laughing so hard about that event.
I can't tell you how fondly I look back on those memories with my friends and our 10 speed bike rides. As a kid, it gave me hope in things to come. But the hope I gained from my 10 speed bike is fleeting. I look at the situation with Rhonda and I; our split second anger and then quick return to laughter. That did not come from my 10 speed, it came out of love; friendship.
I look upon the division that is happening in our country right now and people keep asking, what should we do? When at the same time, Jesus Christ is being taken out of our schools, our businesses, our churches. In John 4, Jesus, tired from walking, sits at a well. He asks a Samaritan woman drawing water from the well for a drink. He tells her that everyone that drinks out of the well will thirst again, but those who believe in him, will be given a living water and will have eternal life. This does not mean that a little girl cannot find hope in a 10 speed bike, but when we look at our nation today, it is going to take more that a 10 speed bike to find hope.
Our hope is in the LORD! As Christians we know that Christ has overcome death and wins in the end. (1 Cor 15:54-58) And I think that every day you should shout this scripture and others to the rooftops to assure yourself that all is well. But maybe you are saying, but today, right now, I look to my left and to my right and it is discouraging. For today, what do I do?
I get it, it is discouraging. But if you are a believer in Christ, you are his hands and feet. I simply do not believe that division brings unity. I know that seems like a simple comment, but, the bible talks about discussing our struggles in "truth and in love." When love is gone, then the truth evaporates and sides are drawn. Christ came for all of us. This day is no different to me than in the early days of Christianity. After Christ resurrected, he returned to task Saul (who later went by Paul) with converting Gentiles or non-Jews to Christianity. The evil one (Satan) did not want that to happen and strife or disunity happened in and outside the Christian community. For example, Jews that followed Christ didn't want non-Jews to follow the faith so they continually called out their differences and made them feel inferior. I believe the same is happening today. We can take sides and blame whoever we want, but in the end, it is Satan trying to create division among this Christian nation. We must turn to Christ, and Christ alone to mend our hearts and build a bridge with others. Christ gives us our greatest command to love God and love one another. (Matt 22:36-40) So what can we do today to find peace and hope? I will close with a portion of Paul's closing appeal for steadfastness and unity to the church of Philippi:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.(Phil 4:4-9)
This story always makes my heart happy & puts a smile on my face! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe had so much fun!
I think trust is a big part of having hope. We need to ask ourselves if we really trust in God to do what he says he'll do. Do you truly honestly believe in him and his word? I do but still find myself doubting or getting frustrated. I heard a pastor once pose that question...then he said if you doubt him...then you don't really know him. This really made me think about my relationship with our Lord. He wants us to look toward him and trust that "all things will work together for our good"...we may not always understand what God is doing in our lives but we must always trust in him.
Thank you for your post it was timely with all the craziness going on in the world...we do need to maintain hope through Jesus Christ.
God's love and peace to you!
Trust. Such a great point Rhonda. I remember all the goofy things we did as kids to show one another that we could be trusted. But in the end, it was all of our talks, our time on our bikes, shared snickers and snowballs.....in that time together I believe that we could see with our own eyes that we could trust one another. I know that I failed in many ways, but Lord knows I am human and pray that I am showing you even now as our friendship continues that you can trust me and that I am always here. I think the same is with the Lord. The more time I spend with him, the more I can trust him. Every day I pray to him to show me how he is working in my life. I know he is there, no, I trust that he is there...may he show me through my time with him. Thank you for your insightful comment Rhonda. :)
DeleteThis story always makes my heart happy & puts a smile on my face! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe had so much fun!
I think trust is a big part of having hope. We need to ask ourselves if we really trust in God to do what he says he'll do. Do you truly honestly believe in him and his word? I do but still find myself doubting or getting frustrated. I heard a pastor once pose that question...then he said if you doubt him...then you don't really know him. This really made me think about my relationship with our Lord. He wants us to look toward him and trust that "all things will work together for our good"...we may not always understand what God is doing in our lives but we must always trust in him.
Thank you for your post it was timely with all the craziness going on in the world...we do need to maintain hope through Jesus Christ.
God's love and peace to you!