Reflections on a Bike Ride

Instead of our usual daily three-mile run, we decided to bike.  As my husband mounted his racing bike dressed in his bikeline.com gear, I put on one of the boys bike helmets and nervously got on the Schwinn (used to running and pushing the Schwinn stroller instead so this was way out of my comfort zone).

I was extremely fearful of falling off the bike, not being able to adjust to gears, etc. but as we headed out onto route 13 my thoughts quickly shifted.  I paced myself and just as I do when I run, I begin the think and reflect. 

My fear of riding a bike was minimal compared to the fear that this nation felt ten years ago when we all were shaken by the greatest terrorist attack in this country’s history. 

As I pushed ahead and winced at all of the road-kill along the bike route, I thought about the innocent people and soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq; senseless deaths as the result of road-side bombings, military attacks, and outright rebellion.

I took a drink break and thought about the children in Haiti who still don’t have access to clean drinking water and the people in Pennsylvania for which a state of emergency has been declared because of flooding that was far worse than that brought on by Hurricane Irene.

As I rode past the local fresh food market I thought about the families in this area who don’t know where their next meal is coming from and all of the children that benefit from the school snack fund.

As I crossed Route 13 I passed a family of strangers sitting on the porch and reflected on the fact that every day we pass strangers who need a friend or a helping hand.

As I struggled to bike up the hill, I thought about folks who struggle to get up every morning because they don’t have the will to live or those who struggle just to live paycheck-to-paycheck.

As I rode further up Route 13 and Mary Mary’s God in Me blared in my headphones, I wished that everyone had a bit more God in them.

Making the push to ride the last mile back to the house was hard, but Dave Hollister’s Striving came on (God is an expert when it comes to timing).  We gotta keep moving no matter what the obstacle, no matter what the test. We gotta push through it…He’s got His angles watching over me, interceding for me, looking out for me…keep on, keep on striving.

Keep striving my friends, to be a better person, to love harder, to work smarter to love the life you have, even thought it not perfect and regardless of how you’re feeling in the moment, promise yourself  to never forget that you are hear for a reason.

PS:       Biking and reflecting…great experience.  Biking after a Brazilian…not so good!