“Against the Wind!”
I
went for a bike ride yesterday afternoon.
I took the same path Jen and I usually take when we go for a bike
ride. We don’t go that often, but we
typically do the same 14 mile trip. We
go 7 miles in one direction before turning around to come back home. The wind was blowing so hard in my face
during the first half of the trip that I actually considered turning around and
going home. My legs felt like they were
on fire as I tried to maintain a steady, but rather slow, speed. The ride quickly became a chore, and it was
not even in the ballpark of something I’d consider to be fun. I wanted the ride to be enjoyable, but it was
not. I wanted to go faster, but I could
not. I thought about turning back toward
home, but I did not. I just kept
pedaling and ignoring the pain in my legs.
Now,
the return trip was a completely different experience. I pedaled along just fine without any pain in
my legs. I settled in to a comfortable
pace, and I was “flying” toward home with little effort. I actually had to use my brakes to slow down
on a few of the curves on the path. It
was a pleasant relief from the first half of the trip.
I
thought about how life can be like that sometimes as well. Days, months, etc. of life can be supper
difficult and almost unbearable. Days,
months, etc. of life can also be fairly easy and enjoyable. It is part of the ups and downs of regular
life. As I considered this, I was only
thinking about my own life, but I later realized that it is true for our spouse
and kids as well. Everyone’s life can
feel like everything happening is like riding a bike “against the wind.” Our lives can also feel like everything
happening is like riding with the wind at your back. Both experiences are good in their own way,
but maybe experiencing life “against the wind” can help us grow in faith more
than experiencing life with the “wind at our back.”
“Consider it pure joy,
my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the
testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
James 1:2-3
PS.
Did any of you parents read the title above and immediately think of the
Bob Seger’s song?? If so, you are
getting older --- just like meJ
Family
Discussion Points!
Parents,
share a story or two with your children about a hard time in your life.
Kids,
share a subject, chore, or sport that is hard for you and feels like you are
riding “against the wind.”
Talk
about how hard times develop perseverance.
Is that a good thing to have??
Now
take a closer look at the picture. In
the upper left hand corner, you can see the end of my Chocolate Lab’s
tail. My dog didn’t care to share at all
while the two young puppies just loved sharing.
