Month: August 2019

They say a picture’s worth a thousand words…

Receiving the map I was told I would never use.

Smiling at the start of the bike ride.

The long dark tunnel ahead.

You thought I was kidding?

So I’m on my bike wobbling, half walking it as I try to navigate my way over loose gravel. Now I need to back up a bit and tell you why I keep mentioning loose gravel.

Riding my bike as a kid

When I was a kid I used to ride my bike a lot. Well, after I traumatically learned how to ride it but that’s a story for another day. Once I was comfortable riding a bike, and not helplessly trying to lean in the opposite direction so I wouldn’t fall over, I was a pretty decent rider. I could cruise around the cul-de-sac no handed. I knew how to ride my bike and I no longer had to think about the mechanics of staying upright. I could take curves at a comfortable speed, ride uphill and downhill no problem. I rode my bike to work one summer and that was downhill uphill downhill on the way in and uphill downhill uphill on the way home. I was accustomed to riding a bike – a regular ten-speed on pavement and street asphalt.

So one day I was riding near a park in another neighborhood and I rode up a ramp and turned. Then crashed and burned. I learned the hard way what happens when you (or at least I) try to turn on loose gravel. I scraped my knee, limped home, and had to get the gravel out.

Back to the Hiawatha bike ride

Are you with me? So imagine what’s going through my head as I’m on a path of dirt and loose gravel. Where’s the paved road? The trail I imagined in my head? I’m not even up to that long dark tunnel and I am already confronted with my greatest biking fear. The only thing going for me is that I’m sitting on a mountain bike with really fat tires (well compared to a regular ten-speed).

But it’s been years since I’ve been on a bike. Nothing about it is familiar and I’ve just committed to a 15-mile bike ride that starts on bumpy dirt and loose gravel. What was I thinking? Whose idea was this anyway? Oh, yeah. My husband’s. And I love and trust my husband and he’s going on this bike ride with me.

Childhood Bible stories

Growing up I heard Bible stories: Noah and the Ark, Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, David and Goliath. The stories were presented on felt board. They were short and understandable. All I had to do was listen to someone else tell me the story or look at an illustrated storybook version.

The stories were recognizable, understandable, and familiar. When I tried to read the Bible as an adult, the safety net was gone. There were no pictures and the stories were a lot longer and had more details. And those names, so many difficult to pronounce names. I wanted the process to be easier, more understandable and manageable.

What we remembered

On the first gathering of my Bible study (the group that read through the whole Bible), we started with what we remembered: Bible stories from our childhood. We shared names we remembered from the Bible: Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses, David, and Jesus. In some cases we remembered a story about the people. Noah built an ark for a flood. David slew a giant Goliath.

Coming back to these stories woven in our hearts from our childhood helped us find a connection to the Bible. It gave everyone a boost of confidence as they realized they already knew something about the Bible. I remember when the epiphanies started and someone discovered they knew a story but either hadn’t realized it was from the Bible or that it was the same person in the Bible. Moses as a baby in a basket and as a grown-up with the parting of the Red Sea.

“That was Moses?”

“Yes, that was Moses.”

“Same Moses?”

“Yup, same Moses.”

Do you have stories you remember from the Bible? Start there. That’s your knowledge base. You do know something from the Bible. No stories coming to mind? Don’t worry, that’s what this journey is for, to learn about those people in the Bible. And the best part? God is in those stories and He’s with us on this journey.

This summer I rode the Hiawatha bike trail, a 15-mile trek along an old train route. This stretch of the trail originates in Montana and continues downhill into Idaho. Downhill is a relative term because there is a lot of pedaling involved, much of it on a gravel path, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Our adventure began as an idea my husband had. He was familiar with the train that went through here and mentioned it when we drove past one time. For a few summers, we talked about going on the bike ride, but the scheduling never worked out until this year. I caught glimpses of information about it and his initial description made it sound fun. A little leisurely sightseeing. An easy downhill bike ride on an old train route. Coasting gently downhill while taking in the scenic views.

As the date approached, I read more about it and started to get a bit nervous. Several tunnels were mentioned and I saw something about the first tunnel, just enough info to cast a bit of uncertainty toward the trip.

The day of the bike ride we started at Lookout Pass Lodge. (Ok, that name takes on new meaning now… look out…) In winter it’s a ski lodge, but during the summer months, bikes, helmets, and riders fill the entryway. We waited in line to arrange bike transport and receive our necessary gear: an appropriately fitted mountain bike, front light, and helmet. Once the arrangements were made, we loaded up in our car and drove to the trail head.

The parking lot was full which meant a really long walk to pick up our bikes and more time to worry about that first tunnel.

I hadn’t ridden a bike in a few years. I was hanging onto the old adage, “It’s just like riding a bike.” I think it implies that once you learn how to ride you don’t forget and it comes back easily. I can soundly report that there are exceptions to that rule.

Once on the bike it was a short jaunt to the dreaded tunnel, (which looked really dark – that’s what the headlight is for). All of the well-seasoned riders were cruising along to the entrance and sailing through the tunnel. I awkwardly tried to steer and navigate my bike over loose gravel. I was the epitome of clumsy and felt very foolish.

I had all the gear and equipment. I’d heard the speech at the lodge. I had a map (which someone told me I would never look at). I was at the trail head. On paper, I was ready to go. In my head I knew I should be ready, but my heart was anxious. I felt like a fraud, out of place. What am I doing? I shouldn’t be here. Who do I think I am that I could do this bike ride?

Ever feel like that with the Bible? I have. I had a Bible. I went to a study. I had all the gear, but I had no clue what I was doing or what I was reading.

I made it through the bike ride and made it through the Bible. It wasn’t without mishaps, but I’m happy to share the experience. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.

A year ago I attended my first multi-day writers conference. Keynote speakers Kim Meeder and Robin Jones Gunn inspired and encouraged me through their messages to the group and gracious interactions one on one. The schedule was packed with coaching classes, writing workshops, and opportunities to hear from industry professionals. I came home filled with knowledge of writing and publishing. The information was great, though it was a lot to absorb all at once. With so much to remember, it was easy to forget the details of the experience.

The first year everything was new – all the information and the process. Now as I prepare for this year’s event, I have a better context for what I am learning.

The same goes for the Bible. We can easily overwhelm ourselves thinking we need to know everything all at once or remember everything we read, but that’s not true.

Learn in layers. Come back to it often. Absorb a little more each time. It’s more fun that way.