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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.

Once I had a song in my head to remind me where to find specific books of the Bible, I opened the Bible more often. I gained a sense of where some of the main books were located:

Genesis – at the front of the Bible, right at the beginning

Psalms – in the middle of the Bible, at the heart of it

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John – the start of the New Testament – remembering the names of these four books in order helped me geographically locate the front of the New Testament

Incidentally, those four books are the Gospels, or Good News. They tell the story of Jesus, who puts the “New” in New Testament.

Geographical Navigation

It’s really cumbersome to look for the table of contents near the front of the Bible. (Have you searched for it before?) I decided I wanted to find a more tactile way of locating specific books of the Bible.

When I open my Bible in half I most often land in Psalms. It varies which number it lands on of the 150 written by various authors. That means I have a greater chance of landing in the middle of Psalms than somewhere else, say Proverbs, which comes right after Psalms. I don’t usually run into Job (rhymes with robe), the one that precedes Psalms, but it is helpful to know it’s on the left side.

Job – Psalms – Proverbs

I think it’s poetic that Psalms is at the middle or the center of the Bible. The Psalms are the songs of the Bible and at the heart of it. These songs written by David and other authors speak from the heart and reflect the heart of those who wrote and read them. Songs of praise and thanks, sorrow or anguish, those that tell a story of remembrance or reflect a physical or spiritual journey, all spoken from the heart and to the heart of God.

These sacred Psalms give words to communicate with God in those moments of life that crave a connection for comfort, counsel, or celebration. I’m grateful that when I don’t have the words to express what I am feeling, I can turn to the Psalms and God will place the words I need on my heart.

I’m getting ready for a writers conference. It’s funny because two years ago I hadn’t even considered myself a writer. Sure I like to write, but that’s different. Is it? So how did I make the leap from writing to calling myself a writer?

I was having lunch with some leaders from church when the woman next to me mentioned that she was working on a children’s book. I had no idea she was a writer. I started to ask her questions because I had recently started thinking about writing a book about the Bible. (Go big or go home, right?) I wanted it to be something that would help people read the Bible. It had really been a tentative thought, one that’s not voiced for fear of the listener’s reaction. But here I was sitting next to a very kind woman who had just disclosed to me that she is a writer. She proceeded to tell me about an upcoming writers conference through an organization she belongs to. I had more questions. She graciously answered them. One day later I was registered for my first writers conference a mere two days away.

I don’t think I would have found that conference if she hadn’t shared that she was writing. That conversation and conference were turning points for me.

I recently led a group of people through the entire Bible. It started much the same way. A casual conversation after church in the entry way while eating ice cream. Four of us were gathered chatting when questions about the Bible came up. “Is it in order?” Well, technically, because it starts with Genesis and ends with Revelation. I like to think of it more like a library with books in groupings.  A library doesn’t shelve its books based on first acquired. Books at a library are shelved by topic and category. The Bible is too. Sure there are some history books that are in order, but there are also groupings of books like the Prophets in the Old Testament and the letters in the New Testament.

As they asked more questions I suggested maybe we could gather and read through the Bible as a group, figure this stuff out together. They liked that idea and our journey began.

Do you know someone who is also interested in learning about the Bible? Do you know someone who is already reading it? Simply mentioning your interest to someone you know may bring you one step closer to opening your Bible. Can’t think of anyone? That’s ok, too. We’ll do this together.

I received it in the 4^th grade. My name was on it in gold nail polish. No engraving on that one. It’s traditional Bible red. I think it has red letters inside. I’d have to check. It’s full of memories: a note in German from a high school exchange program, a few post-its marking scripture passages, a four-leaf clover, and a black and white photo of “Christ in the snow” from camp the summer I really experienced Jesus for the first time.

I don’t honestly know how much I’ve read it though. I didn’t understand it when I tried to read it as a kid. It contains no chapter introductions. The wording is a bit complicated for my taste. It does have the prerequisite maps in the back though.

I find it funny that I know what memories it holds, what’s inside it… but I don’t know what’s inside it.

In the past several years I’ve found new Bibles out of a hunger to learn just what was inside. I’ve looked at study Bibles and picture Bibles. The more I look, the more I find.

I encourage you to find your Bible. It’s the first step in finding your way.