Biking with Jesus

A friend sent this story to encourage me. It’s from Closer to Heaven by Don Maclean. I love it!

How to See God

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, like the Prime Minister. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him.

Later on, when I met Christ, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was on the back helping me to pedal.

I don’t know just when it was that He suggested we change places but life’s not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring but predictable… It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, through rocky places at break-neck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, ‘Pedal.’

I worried and was anxious and asked, ‘Where are You taking me?’

He laughed and didn’t answer and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered the adventure. When I say, ‘I am scared’, He leans back and touches my hand. He takes me to people who have gifts that I need; gift of healing, acceptance and joy. They give me gifts to take on the journey, my Lord’s and mine.

And we’re off again. He says, ‘Give the gifts away, they’re extra baggage, too much weight.’ So I do, to the people we meet, and I find that in giving I receive, yet still our burden is light.

At first I don’t trust Him to be controlling my life. I think, ‘He’ll wreck it!’ But He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I’m learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places. I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I’m sure I just can’t do anymore, He smiles and says…’Pedal’.