I LOVE CYCLING!!!
I really
don't know how else to say that.
I was
introduced to cycling around 3 years ago by one of my close friends. We cycled
in Karura Forest and it was my first time on a bike after a really long time
and I ended up falling so many times, getting lots of bruises and ending up
with a bit of a bruised ego. (I thought cycling was a piece of cake!!)
3 years
down the line, I have over 3,000 km of cycling under my belt and I have dreams
of doing much more than that. I never dreamt that this would ever be one of my
passions but we never know God's plans for us, now do we???
Getting
from so many falls, cuts and a bruised ego to over 3,000 km cycled has taken a
lot of learning for me, it has taken a lot of commitment and growing... making
lots of sacrifices to improve on the saddle and make sure my body can withstand
up to 100 km of cycling in a day. I have ended up cycling with quite a few
groups of people and those have been my biggest learning moments.
The last
group cycle I went for is one of those that God used to grow my faith a lot...
This is why...
I had
not cycled with a group for quite a while... mostly because I've been focused
on cycling with my wife and helping her get used to cycling on the same road
with cars flying by her. (She's doing a really amazing job learning by the
way... Hats off!!)
So for
quite a while, I had been doing just 30 km max... and I was on my own. So for
me to join a group ride after a lengthy time was good for me, at least to
measure up to others and gauge how well I was doing (or so I though). The ride
was meant to be 30 km and it ended up as 51 km!!!
Let me
make the long story short... 51 km of cycling with a bunch of riders who have
been training much more than me ended up with me being the last fellow and
panting vehemently (does this word even apply here????).
But at
every single point, these bunch of guys encouraged me every single step (pedal)
of the way... And I did it!! I've been cycling loads since then, no way I'm
going through that again.
One of
the things you will realize about life is, just like my cycling escapade, you
will never do life on your own, you will never be the guy at the front of the
pack always, and times will come when you need a little encouragement... and
other times when you need to give a little encouragement to the guy cycling at
the back of the pack.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Picture this... the life of a Christian is just like your
favourite football team (Do you watch football???); the goal
is for everyone to emerge victorious, to win the match. Christians are in a
match against the evil one and all he stands for (Ref. to Ephesians 6:12).
We are called to surround ourselves with like minded brothers
and sisters who will ensure that when we are panting and sweating at the back of
the pack, they will stand with us and push us up the hills and challenges of
the Christian walk. In the end we count ourselves as victorious because of the
team that walked with us and helped us through.
I know of times when I have been alone and I have felt like
giving up is the only option left… and just at the very last moment, God brings
along a fellow team mate and I get picked up. I have seen Christians who decide
they no longer want to be part of the team…
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Collosians 3:13-14
Remember this, none of us is perfect… this is a team of
imperfect individuals who only want to get through life and live for Christ. We
are only reminded to bear with one another as part of the same family. You see, when we love one
another despite our weaknesses, love becomes the focus and we no longer see
those weaknesses.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Every
Christian’s desire is to experience the fellowship and warmth of being part of
the family of Christ… and that is the very nature God created in us.
Be
a member of the team… first because you need it; and secondly, you could just be
what another Christian needs.
