The Road of Life

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognised His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him. Later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was that he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable... It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knows the delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, “Pedal!" I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, the Lord's and mine. And we're off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light. I did not trust him at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my constant companion, Jesus Christ. And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says....  

"Pedal."

The Road of Life (Author Unknown)

This is the speech I memorised for a speech competition in the seventh grade, I believe. I got a blue ribbon for it and was also asked to give it at our end of the year “Best of the Best” school program. (Be aware that I went to a private school with 250 students total, so don’t be too impressed.) Anyways, when I picked this monologue I thought it was cute and fun to say and it had lots of opportunities for embellishment to get me that blue ribbon. And I was right, but I never really looked at this speech and evaluated it against my own journey with God until now. As a private school kid, I definitely knew about God. I had bible class every day and chapel every Thursday. My teachers were Christians and all the families in the school were Christian. It was an amazing community and I loved it. But I never really looked at the Christian faith, thought on it, and made it my own. It was more like a lifestyle. Like the monologue says, I noticed God was there, but I was in control. It was not until my certainty in life was taken away that I realised I couldn’t be in front anymore. It was sort of like I had crashed the bike and realised I sucked at steering. It prompted the best decision I’ve ever made: giving Christ the lead. I still get nervous and try to take back my position in the front, but let’s be real… Jesus really does know bike secrets. Or rather, life secrets. I mean he came and lived the perfect life on earth. That guy was nice, he never lied, he was nice to his parents and siblings…all the time…loved the convicts and prostitutes and low-lifes, and touched the people with contagious illnesses that made your skin fall off only to heal them. Seriously, if Jesus came to earth today I’d want to be that dude’s BFF. The New Testament tells us about how much he kicked every else’s butts at doing life right. Given the option, I’d much rather him help me out and steer me in the right direction than screw it up myself. So, that’s pretty much what I did. I definitely still reach for the steering wheel at times and sometimes Jesus slaps my hand and says “Hands off.” Other times he lets me try and I either realise I’m going to crash and quickly jump back to my spot in the backseat. Other times, I crash and he picks me up, dusts me off, and sets me back on my seat. Either way, life is much better when he is in front. I am so glad I believe in a God that has a plan for me and wants to help me along the path to accomplish it.