I went on a church bike trip, did not finish, but learned from this avoidable yet vulnerable circumstance!
How bad could it be? Have I ridden a bike in over a year? No. Have I ever biked with anything other than myself on said bike? No. “Was I positive that the weather was going to be fine? Yes. Was I wrong? Yes. Did it take three weeks to walk normally after this endeavor? Sure did! Do I have a good attitude about the whole thing? Yes, maybe inappropriately so.
It was strange to say yes to something that I did not think I could actually do. I was not able to envision the sense of failure I would experience until it swelled up like a suppressed memory.
I heard that there was going to be a bike trip with some women from my church. The phrase, “eight hours of biking a day for three days” did not sit well with me, but no one expressed any relative concern, so I decided to go with it. I felt like I was unaware of what I was capable of. This trip description did not include the weather conditions that would leave me sleeping in a puddle of rain or pedaling beside a countryside highway with all of my might down a wind stricken hill that could have blown me over. I was robbed of the joy of coasting!
All of this was unknown and unimaginable. So, I experienced it! But most importantly, I was forced to accept offers to change the bike route for the day. I was put in a place where I was a part of a team and it changed its plan to accommodate for my needs. Nothing makes me more uncomfortable than this. We spent an afternoon at the beach instead of biking. I was so thankful, and could not have received that grace unless I was put in this vulnerable position. I became the receiver when I am always more comfortable being the giver.
Yes, there is a sense of sacrifice in giving, but it is also a position of power and strength that can be taken for granted, and should also be “given” every once in a while.
Loving and serving sacrificially is life giving when it is done freely. Sacrifice leading to freedom is one of those backwards functions that always surprises me and makes me celebrate the humbling creativity of God.
That trip made me feel embarrassed, cared for, foolish and courageous. I would highly recommend us all to take on these situations and find out what happens.