WHEN I FIRST MET CHRIST, MY LIFE WAS LIKE A BIKE RIDE. BUT IT WAS A TANDEM BIKE, AND I NOTICED THAT GOD WAS HELPING ME PEDAL. I DONT REMEMBER JUST WHEN IT WAS THAT HE SUGGESTED WE CHANGED PLACES, AND MY LIFE HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME SINCE.

WHEN I HAD CONTROL, I KNEW THE WAY--IT WAS RATHER BORING AND PREDICTABLE.....IT WAS THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS. BUT WHEN HE TOOK THE LEAD, HE KNEW DELIGHTFUL LONG CUTS; UP THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND THROUGH ROCKY PLACES, SOMETIMES GOING AT BREAKNECK SPEEDS. EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKED LIKE MADNESS, HE SAID, "PEDAL!"

I WAS OFTEN WORRIED AND ANXIOUS, ALL THE TIME ASKING, "WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?" WITH PATIENCE HE WOULD JUST SMILE. SOON I LEARNED TO TRUST HIS LEAD. I SOON FORGOT MY BORING LIFE AND ENTERED INTO AN ADVENTURE. AND WHEN ID SAY, "IM SCARED!" WITH LOVE 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-- LIFE WITH GOD.

AND WHEN WE WERE OFF AGAIN, HE TOLD ME TO GIVE THE GIFTS AWAY. HE EXPLAINED THAT IF I KEPT THEM, THEY WOULD BECOME EXTRA BAGGAGE, TOO MUCH WEIGHT. SO I GAVE THE GIFTS TO PEOPLE WE MET ALONG THE WAY. I FOUND THAT IN GIVING I RECEIVED, AND MY BURDENS BECAME LIGHT. AS I THINK BACK, I REMEMBER HOW AT FIRST I DID NOT TRUST HIM IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE. I THOUGHT HE WOULD WRECK IT--LOL. I SOON FOUND OUT THAT GOD KNOWS BIKE SECRETS, HE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE IT AROUND BENDS AND SHORT, SHARP CORNERS. HE CAN EVEN MAKE IT FLY TO SHORTEN SCARY PASSAGES. I AM LEARNING TO SHUT-UP AND PEDAL EVEN IN THE STRANGE PLACES, AND HONESTLY.....I AM STARTING TO ENJOY RIDING ALONG WITH MY CONSTANT COMPANION--JESUS CHRIST. THE VIEW IS PEACEFUL AND THE COOL BREEZE ON MY FACE IS REFRESHING.

NOW I KNOW THAT WHEN FEEL AS IF I JUST CANT GO ON ANY FURTHER, HE JUST SMILES AND SAYS...... "PEDAL."