I have a confession. I may have developed a bit of an addiction…
…to biking.
I never thought I’d be the one taking pictures of my bike on mountain peaks. Nor did I ever imagine myself riding trails ALONE! And… must I confess?… STRAVA … yip, “I Strava”. The use of that word as a verb is proof that this thing has a hold on me 🙂 But you guys, what can I say? This biking thing is so stinkin’ fun!!!
Confessions aside, I am still me. And ME never stops thinking. So even in the midst of climbing, peddling, dodging, flowing, and falling (yes, falling) I can’t help but process life.
Life Lessons From the Trail
Life Lesson #1: Scratches and bruises are part of the deal.
If you’re gonna ride you’re gonna get hurt. Minor scratches and bruises are guaranteed. Broken bones, paralyses, and death are risks you have to consider. To think otherwise is naive – absurd, to be frank.
When it comes to living life though, I think we’re taken aback when scratches and bruises are incurred, as if something is wrong, even unfair, about that. We’re unsettled by the idea that pain and suffering are all part of the deal. I think this struggle is particularly present for those who’ve put their trust in Christ. For myself, I want to believe that maybe I can escape the injuries of life through wise navigation and skill, like an expert biker picking right lines and erecting perfect posture. I want to ‘carry my cross’ without actually carrying a cross. Or to put it in biking terms, I’d rather ride without the risk of getting hurt. But this isn’t how it works.
Scratches and bruises are evidence of authenticity – whether in biking or in faith. We shouldn’t be surprised when ‘fighting the good fight’ means we come home a little bloody.
The athletes motto “No pain, no gain” also holds truth for the believer. Listen to this wise coaching from James…
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:3-4)
Life Lesson #2: Look Where You’re Going
This lesson might be better stated, “Look where you want to go.” You’ll hear it in almost every sport: look at the thing you’re aiming for. Look at it, focus on it, fix your eyes on it. The human body has an amazing way of coordinating itself to move you and I (or the object we’re throwing, shooting, kicking, steering, etc) to its desired location. Indeed this takes practice, but a surefire way to fail (or fall) is to look in the wrong direction. We won’t make many baskets, goals, or touchdowns looking at the crowd rather than the goal. We won’t hit the target or cross the finish line staring up at the sky or looking down at the ground. Distracted drivers (and bikers) are scary because they not only put themselves at risk of injury but put others’ in harms way as well.
In life it’s easy to lose focus on the goal. It’s easy to get distracted by the crowds. It’s easy to get our head in the clouds or let it hang in despair. So again, let us listen to some coaching from the writer of Hebrews…
“And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Life Lesson #3: Enjoy The Ride
I mentioned Strava earlier – an app for tracking miles, speed, and elevation, primarily used in cycling and running. It not only tracks your activities and progress but also allows you to ‘follow’ others and see the details of their activities. You can probably guess where I’m going with this… This wonderful tool can easily become a vicious trap… when it becomes another way to compare yourself with others… when every ride is a race against time to achieve a new personal record… when moving up in rank equals moving up in life. Interestingly enough strava is a Swedish word meaning ‘strive’.
I’ll be the first to admit that I have fallen into the Strava trap. In a desire to grow, the ability to track progress has its appeal. But at what cost? And for what purpose? If a desire for a faster time means I no longer stop to enjoy the mountain views then for me personally something has been lost, not gained.
In life – and I dare say, especially in the life of faith – it’s easy to get caught up in striving… towards good ends maybe – but striving none the less. And with striving comes a desire to measure and compare in order to track progress. Striving, measuring, and comparing are like three strands woven together to form a noose by which we hang ourselves. They lead us away from life – not towards it.
We must not forget to enjoy the ride. Take in the views. Breath in and smell the air. Pull off the trail and cry when it hurts. Then laugh and squeal when it’s so blasted fun you can’t hardly believe it!
This journey called Life isn’t only about our destination. Life is a gift where every day gives opportunity to delight in all that God is and does. Let us not miss the joy in the journey for the sake of climbing higher and getting there faster…
because sometimes the best views are right in front of us.
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Niki Schemanski is a wife of seventeen years and homeschooling mother of three children. A love of singing led her into an early career in performing arts at eight years old. After college Niki became a worship pastor and has been serving in ministry ever since. She and her family reside in Durango, Colorado. (Read More: About The Author)