I’m at a bicycle shop in south Denver, waiting nervously for my adult Learn-to-Ride class to start. I feel embarrassed. I learned to ride a bike as a kid. Sharing a one-speed Schwinn with my big sister, I biked up and down our northeast Denver streets, determined to pedal fast. I loved the speed and skill of mastering a two-wheeler. Once I learned, I never looked back.
As the rule of thumb says: “It’s like riding a bike. You never forget.”
Well, I forgot.
Life happened. I stopped riding. The three-speed I bought as an adult rarely left the garage. Convinced I no longer cared, my husband sold my bike at a garage sale, making the exchange while I was inside the house and not bothering to get my okay because, as he explained, “You never ride it!”
So there I was — no bike, peeved with him for dumping mine, not ready to invest in another one.
For exercise, I took long walks with Dan in a nearby park, always aware he prefers biking because a medical injury sometimes makes him stumble.
Something else hindered us, however — my lingering anger. Dan sold my bike — without asking me. I scratched that resentment like a bad rash.
“I’ll get you another bike,” he finally promised, shopping with me at garage sales and stores to look for a replacement.
Sure enough, at a church swap meet one Saturday, I eyed a too-cool women’s ten-speed, step-through bike in the church parking lot. Silvery and sleek, it featured thin wheels, no rust, quality components, and a merciful price.
So, I got on the bike for a test. I started to pedal, and immediately, I fell off. Stunned, I tried again, but I could not balance. I got on again, but no go. I couldn’t ride the thing — or any other bike I tried.
Years passed with me watching bicyclists of all ages fly by me as I walked at the park, feeling envious and privately nursing my old grudge. Finally this spring, Dan urged me to take a class “so we can ride together again.”
Searching online, I found an adult class and signed up. I feared falling. But after watching a YouTube video of a woman learning to ride a bike, I committed to give it my best.
Moreover, I prayed: I need help — to ride, to balance, and especially to forgive.
I finally realized “my” bike wasn’t mine at all. “The earth is the Lord’s,” says Psalm 24:1, “and everything in it” — bikes included.
Then with goodness, God lifted my resentment, and now I thought maybe I could ride.
Indeed, I could.
At the Bicycle Colorado class, the teachers are smart twenty-somethings and nice. With a practice bike, they point me to a big parking lot and secure my helmet. Then one of them removes the bike’s pedals and orders me to sit on the saddle, lift my feet, and just glide.
Looking down at my feet, I quickly lose my balance. But the teacher says, “Look up! The bike will follow where you look, where you want to go.”
I listen to that forgotten wisdom and look straight ahead — to where I want to go.
Of course, in no time, I’m gliding — feet off the ground, balanced and straight. In another ten minutes, with the pedals back on the bike, I’m riding that bike like nobody’s business.
“Come back!” Dan yells. But I’m gone, pedaling strong, turning toward tomorrow.
How? By looking up. Following my eyes. Heading to where I want to go. Yep, it’s a metaphor. But it blesses my soul, and so I’m sharing the lesson with you:
Look up — to our Source, to our Help, to where you want to go. Your bike will follow. Even better, so will your life.
Look up -- to our Source, to our Help. -@PatriciaRaybon: Click To Tweet
Thank you for this Patricia. A few years ago, at 60+, I intended to have a bicycle again, so I bought a second-hand one, and bravely manoeuvred it around the parking lot. I then proceeded to park it in the bathroom of my small flat (the only place with enough room), and it sat there for a whole winter. When I thought again about riding it in the spring, I just could not arouse the courage to ride it, so I sold it back to the second-hand bike shop. Your article has made me see that ‘looking up’ is not only a good way to relearn to ride a bicycle, but also a wonderful way to live. I am so much enjoying reading your book, ‘God’s Great Blessings Devotional’, this year. It is giving me much to think and pray about, and encouraging me as well. May God bless you in all you do – including cycling!
Dear Barbara,
It’s wonderful to connect with you today! Thanks for your kind feedback, and for sharing your bicycle story. (I pray you’ll look for another bike and try it again!) Funny, as a kid, I don’t remember learning the “look up” lesson when it came to bike riding. As an adult, however, I certainly appreciate the lesson, especially as it relates to life. I’m delighted it blessed you, too. Thanks also for journeying along on my devotional. I was blessed to write it and hear from people frequently how much they enjoy it. God is so good! Blessings today and have a beautiful summer. With God’s love, Patricia
Patricia,
I love this…especially the part where you made the decision to “look up” and off you went while your husband called for you to come back lol. I discovered the same thing when I went to ride a bike for the first time in 30+ years. My automatic instinct was to look down – at the wheel, at my feet, at the ground. I, too, found that once I looked up to where I was going and set my sights on the destination up ahead, then I could keep my balance. Funny how, just like having to re-learn how to ride a bike, we often need to “re-learn” in our faith walk. Too many times, I’m caught looking down at worldly circumstances instead of looking heavenward to my good and gracious Father who will guide me, if only I keep my eyes on Him. Loved this analogy!! Will think of you the next time I get on a bike…for sure! Keep on pedaling…
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, what a wonderful point. Yes, in our faith journeys, we often need to “re-learn” how to walk it. Certainly true for me. As I head off to ride my bike this morning, I’ll think of you, too. May God bless us all to keep on pedaling! For His glory! With His love, Patricia
Patricia,
Life down here can be hard & messy. it is so easy to get off track & lose our balance. We travel a path following where it leads. Then along come detours & different winding paths. We are lost & feel unbalanced. Life seems spiraling out of control. We just want to find our way out to the original path God had us on. The solution is simple-look up to the source of our help. He will guide us back to the right path. Just trust in the God of the universe to guide & direct you back home. Only He can get you back on track.
Blessings 🙂
Amen, Beth! He knows our path and He is the Way! As we walk this road of life, O Lord, bless us as your people, to keep looking up to You! (Thank you, Beth, for inspiring!)
What an awesome reminder; I so needed to hear this today. I hope you have fun riding your bike!!!!
Thank you for this feedback, Julie! God is so good to bless us with fun AND wisdom. Praying summer wisdom and fun for you, too!
Thanks, Patricia! Very good metaphor! And you could carry it on as a reminder to stay in the Word and don’t lose your ability to balance. Ride safely and enjoy!
Amen, Irene! O Lord, bless us to stay balanced in You!
I love the reminder to look up! Thank you for this.
Bless you, dear Tammie! I appreciate your kind feedback. And keep looking up! Love, Patricia
Excellent reading. We find ourselves like children when we first learn to ride a bike we have get rid of the stabilizers. As we want to be big kids and rid without them. Ride the bike with two wheels. It not that easy at the start. As we are very wobbly. We don’t have the support of the stabilizers. But through the pratice we get there. In the end we get that we can ride the bike with just two wheels no stabilizers. We feel brilliant. It like that when we have someone we need to forgive. It hard at the start. We might not be able to forgive them face to face as they might not want too spake too us. Even if it there fault. We have to as Christian do as Jesus would want us to do. Forgive them. We might get the chance to say to them in person with Gods strength. At the time like riding the back without the stabilizers we might feel a bit wobbly and shaky going up to the person that hurt us saying. You hurt me by what you done and said. But I am praying for you and I go because it is the right thing to do. Jesus would want me to do it. Ephesians 4 verse 32 says And be kind to one another tenderhearted forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave You. It might be a hard thing too do at the time like riding the bike with out stabilizes. But you feel better having done it. Be able to walk away hopefully with the other person sayin sorry too you and the two of you both being friends again and making up. Then you can walk like learning to ride the bike straight. Then that thing that person did on you will no longer annoy you. God will bless you for doing that. God will bless you even if the person does not want to talk to you. All you do then nicely is say I fogive you for hurting me. I am praying for you and walk away leave it at that. Hope your words make that person see they need to forgive for the attitude. You both make friends again one day and put it all behind you both. As that is what God would want you both too do. No fall out over it. As life too short and it not worth it. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little. Xxx
So well said, Dawn! We can feel unsteady when we struggle to forgive. But looking up to God, we can walk that road by faith. To God be the glory. Thank you so much for sharing this today! Love, Patricia
Thank you for replying to my comment Patricia. I loved your reading today. You are an excellent writer. I learned alot from todays reading. God tought me alot from it. As in the past with Forgiveness I had alot of struggles with it. I had to get prayer and help for it. I am glad now I am able to forgive people who hurt me like Jesus would want me to do. As if I didn’t it would only make me ill. Then I am the one loosing out not the person who has hurt me. As they never give me a second thought. Your word today was just excellent. Dawn Enniskillen Northern Ireland xxxxxx Thank you so much for it. Praying for you all at incourage.
Dawn, it’s been lovely to connect today. I didn’t realize you live in Northern Ireland. I looked up your town, Enniskillen, on WIkipedia. What a fascinating locale and history. So glad, by faith, we can connect across the miles. Your insight and testimony on forgiveness are so helpful, too. Kindest thanks for sharing, reaching out and praying for all at (in)courage. We are blessed by your faithful support! Warmest regards today, Patricia
Patricia, I never thought of this correlation. I’ll definitely remember this as you’ve written this so well!
Thank you for always helping me as you’re amazing at writing!
Hope that you and your family are having a great summer.
Jen, thank you so much! The Lord is so gracious — teaching us, in the small matters of every day, how to live in this amazing life. So grateful for Him! Thank you for reading and replying. Blessings, too, on your day and your summer! Onward we go! Love and joy, Patricia
Patricia,
Honestly, I did not know that we could forget how to ride a bike.
Thank you for sharing vulnerability and wisdom! Your story nudges me to seek out ‘unforgiveness’ hidden in over-looked corners of my heart, so that I can make space for healing, and recover lost valuables.
Shalom.
Lucretia — yes! That’s the ticket. Making space for healing and balance, and then in the process, we recover by faith our lost valuables. (And I had to fall off a bike for the Lord to teach me this!) Blessings and thanks for reading and replying. Sending all love and joy your way today! Shalom! Patricia
So beautifully said, Lucretia. Yes!
Oh, this made me smile 🙂
Blessings on you, Kelly! I’m happy you’re smiling! With His joy and love, Patricia
Thanks so much for this encouraging challenge! I love the end about looking up to our source and help.
Blessings and kind thanks, dear Jenny! Yes, may God bless us all to keep looking up! With His peace and love, Patricia
Thank you so much for this timely message of hope. and the lesson that we indeed HAVE to forgive in order to get over our resentments.
My two adult sisters, both older than I, are estranged from my mother and myself. My oldest sister has (in my mind) a long laundry list of things she needs to answer for, hurting me emotionally time and again, but most especially for hurting our mother for years and years. She blames everyone for things beyond their control.
My middle sister, oh boy, where to start! She has gotten into a physical altercation with me, and then about 18 months later, she beat my mother so badly, she broke my mother’s back in three places and caused her irreparable damage to her hip joint and low back. Here again, I have been so extremely angry with her for the way that she has treated everyone. I want to take her by the scruff of the neck and shake the liver out of her!
I know that isn’t from God. I have asked and asked the Lord to help me forgive them both for the damage they have separately caused our family. And I often feel that I have forgiven them. And then, poof. The anger and resentment return just as soon as a letter in the mail arrives from either of them.
I pray that God will soften my heart towards them permanently and that I can look at the mail they send and see it and not react.
I don’t know if in true forgiveness, I have to allow them entry back into my life. I am perfectly fine with never seeing or hearing from either of them again at this point. And that makes me worry that I haven’t let it all go. I continue to pray for God’s healing for our family.
Thank you, Patricia for this post. It has encouraged me to get on my bike and forward in faith that all will be well.
Kimberly, blessings today — and thank you so much for sharing your story. Oh, what a trial to endure family tensions, troubles, hurt, and mistreatment. They test our every strength, and I’m so sorry you’ve endured this. In reply, my little bike-riding story seems to teach us that to get balance back in our lives, take our eyes off of our hurts and struggles — indeed, off of our own vain and misguided efforts to pedal and fix trouble and fix people — and instead to look up and forward to God. When we do, something about focusing on Him eases our stresses, helping us understand and forgive the hurt that others have caused, so we can move on. So, should you close the door on toxic family? Some say yes. The Lord’s example suggests no. My best advice is to keep praying over that hard question, keeping your eyes forward and up to God to see His answer as you go. Nothing, indeed, is too hard for Him. Meantime, it’s a good thing to find a bike, take a ride and let Him lead! I pray His guidance, joy and help as you journey. Riding with you! With sisterly love, Patricia
I have always loved bicycling so this article drew me in. My life is out of balance right now and most days I lean into the Lord for grace, mercy and strength. Today, not so much. I feel like giving up…giving up on making it through this marital storm. Even my reading Scripture and pouring into him with prayer and worship feels flat.
Oh, Nancy, I hear you. Some seasons are SO tough. So very discouraging and hard. Those seem to be the moments when the Lord truly is inviting us to “let go and let God” — laying it all on the altar. Then go ride a bike! It’s recognizing that we are not in charge — especially not in charge of “fixing” other people or changing hard situations. But God! He CAN do what we can’t. In His own time. In His own way. Meantime, there’s that bike — calling you for a long, relaxing ride. Praying the Lord holds you steady as you wait and trust on Him. Riding with you! With sisterly love, Patricia
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Thank-you for sharing your vulnerability. Thanks for writing about relearning something you already knew how to do once. I think the Christian life is a lot like your story, we often are invited into re-learning, re-storing, re-building. I felt very encouraged by your post.
Kelly, blessings on you and thank you! You are so right — and say it so well. This, our Christian journey, is so often about “re-learning, re-storing, re-building.” And our rough spots need encouragement. Thanks for your sisterly support today, indeed. With His joy and warmest thanks! Gratefully, Patricia
Good morning Pat! Thank you for your inspirational writing. I’ve been meaning to get my 2nd hand bike on the road for awhile now. It needs air in the tires and I think that’s all. It’s been in the garage ever since I got it – 3 or 4 years ago. Just a few days ago I told my husband I need a place to take it. Excuses, I know. I think it is fear of falling that keeps me from taking that step. But you’ve encourage me now that I know I can take a ‘grown-ups’ class. Not just that, I’m encouraged to get on with other things in my life I’ve been neglecting, fear of falling or failing – pick one. Looking forward to seeing you and Dan on the bike path soon!
Morning, Linda! Happy Summer! Yes, please take that bike class! The Lord will lead and guide! And you’re so right — fear of falling “or failing” — stops us from so many things in life. Funny how learning to bike again has inspired other things to try. Praying you discover the same! So, give Bicycle Colorado a try. Let me know when you’re back on two wheels again. To God be the glory! Ride on, wonderful friend! Sending all love today, Pat
Linda, also, here’s the Bicycle Colorado “Learn to Ride” schedule for 2019. Ride on with God! https://www.bicyclecolorado.org/initiatives/bike-school/learn-to-ride/
Patricia! I so enjoyed reading this piece. So real and inspiring. Thank you for sharing. Happy riding, friend!
Becky, thank you! (Your daily exercise routines inspire!) Let’s keep on walking. Riding, too! Onward for Him! Love, Patricia