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EXIT FORTY-ONE ~ FROM WHERE DO I PEDAL
A very elderly and content woman contemplated the journey that led her through such a rich and purposeful life. She recalled being a child and how much it had been like sitting on the front seat of a tandem bicycle. Early on, her parents and mentors shared time on the rear seat, pedaling hard and giving her direction.
As the child grew through adolescence, however, her parents were sadly taken in a car accident. For a while, she would live with caring relatives before going off to college. It was there that she looked back from the front seat of her bike and thought no one was behind her. No one was helping pedal or guide her along the way.
Thrilled at first, the woman proudly took the lead but soon began taking a lot of shortcuts, avoiding the difficult routes, and winding up in poor destinations. At that time in her life, things seemed boring and aimless, with no joy or destination in her future.
Then, one day the young woman’s solo pedaling got a little easier. Her travels also seemed to take her to nicer places. Turning, she wasn’t surprised to notice Jesus sitting in the seat behind her, effortlessly pumping away with his sandaled feet.
With a compassionate smile, Jesus asked the young woman if they might change places. She accepted his offer and took a back seat to the Lord that day, knowing somewhere deep in her soul that it was not just okay, it was right.
When the young woman allowed Jesus to sit up front, she recalled how they no longer took shortcuts. He knew pathways that took her the long way around but had so much joy and growth to offer. He led them up steep mountain trails, along some very rough and rocky roads, and sometimes did so at somewhat scary speeds. During their lifelong travels together, it was often all she could do just to hang on.
Even when it all looked like madness, Jesus said "Pedal, my child." When the woman would say, "I'm scared", He would simply turn back to touch her hand, and a warm confidence would flow through her heart. When she would become anxious and ask, "Where are you taking me?" Jesus would just smile. He never answered, but she soon learned to trust Him.
A life without destination and joy soon became a wonderful adventure for the woman. Jesus took her to people with gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. But he said to her many times, "Share your gifts or they will become too heavy for you.” So she shared with all whom she met along the way and found that in giving, she was also receiving. Because of this, her burden remained light.
Contemplating her amazing life, the elderly woman knew that with Jesus, she learned to have faith when taking her two-seater bike onto difficult paths. And even now, when she feels as if she can’t go on, He turns, smiles, and just says, “Keep pedaling, my child. Keep pedaling.”