“Keep your eyes straight ahead and your wheel straight! ”
My Pink, Circa late ’70’s Huffy Dirt Bike was my ticket to freedom and suburban adventure. With it, I could fly. Miles slipped beneath my wheels. I could go anywhere, and do anything.
I was Wonder Woman, on a Pink Huffy, with coke-bottle glasses and a bad home perm.
A favorite adventure was riding to Prayer Baptist Church. It wasn’t for worship. The church was built on a hill. It had a long sloping driveway that led to the top of the hill and the front doors. The driveway wrapped all the way around to the back, to where the real parking was. You could really get going down that hill. Along side the driveway, there were equally long, equally sloping, steps. There were probably a hundred steps. We rode to the top of the driveway, jumped a small curb, and stopped on the sidewalk at the top of the steps. Then, we flew down. (Sometimes literally, OUCH) It was a tooth rattling, blur of pink joyride.
On my Pink Huffy, I was unstoppable. Invincible. Almost. Like all superheroes, I had a weakness, a nemesis. Mine, was RAILROAD TRACKS. They got me every time.
I tried everything I could to avoid them. I offered alternate routes. “How bout we ride to 7-11?” I lied: “My Mom said I’m not allowed to cross railroad tracks” In desperation, I’d offer bribes… “I’ll buy the slurpees!” Sometimes my avoidance techniques worked, mostly not.
Often, the bike rides ended (for me anyways) at the railroad tracks. Either, by me getting off to walk my bike across, to the taunts of my friends… “Chicken! Baby! Tracey’s gotta walk her bike!” , or, worse yet, by pitching over the handlebars and landing in the middle of the railroad tracks, convinced I was about to be run over by a train. (We never crossed when trains were coming, but I just figured that would be my luck.) Sometimes, if I was riding with a kinder, gentler friend, I heard encouragement to try, yet again. “Keep your eyes straight ahead! Don’t look down! Look at me! Keep your wheel straight, and just keep pedaling! Don’t slow down! ”
Eventually, I got the hang of it. My friend was right. The key was to keep my eyes straight ahead- keep my arms locked straight and just keep pedaling.
Through the years- I’ve noticed that there are things in my life that have also become like railroad tracks. It may be a crisis that I can see coming. You know- the kind you can see, but not stop from happening. Or, it may be a direction that God is calling me to follow Him, but one that involves struggle, bumps, frightening railroad tracks. They can cause me to freak out and pitch over my emotional handlebars, if I don’t work hard to keep my eyes on Christ, arms locked and wheel straight, pedaling like mad.
I do this by focusing on Him. Not the railroad track in my path. I focus then, even more on His word. On prayer, listening and leaning on Him, and on His people, the people that will encourage me to keep my eyes on him. Following.
Much like Peter did when Jesus called Him out to join Him, walking on the water. And, on the days, when I hear the wind whipping around me, or see the railroad tracks too late to focus my eyes on Him… or just plain get scared and don’t do what I know is better… I fall. Flying head first over my emotional handlebars, crying worrying and shouting all the way. On those days, I do what Peter did, as well, when he started to sink in the water. I cry out “Jesus! Help me!” And He does. He steadies the bike. If I land on the tracks, He lifts me back up. Puts me back on my bike, holding the seat and running beside me- much like my Dad did to teach me to ride. (However- Jesus doesn’t tire, and let go, or cough and wheeze from smoking too many Kool 100’s like my Dad did.)
Dear Lord, There are so many things that cause to fear and doubt. There are also things that cause us to consider turning to another path- even one of sin. Things that tempt us to find an alternate route, or that time and again cause us to pitch over the handle bars, landing in the middle of the railroad tracks, waiting for the train to hit. God- I pray that we’d keep our eyes focused on you, following you and your path, not turning to the right or to the left, but pedaling straight on, and finishing the race you’ve put before us.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Tracey,
Delightful story as usual. I smiled when you mentioned the “bad home perm.” I received a Lilt every summer. The word Lilt brings back memories of a frizzy blonde girl on hot summer days.
Love your prayer. It is mine also today. 🙂
Your writing lifts the spirit! Thank you so much for this. I’ve been behind on all my blog visits, but trying to visit a few this afternoon. Feeling like I’ve been called to walk on water these last few weeks and I keep taking my eyes off Jesus, and sinking fast. Thank you for the precious prayer at the end, too, though–I’m praying it with you.
Oh yes. you have nailed it. I still hit the brakes instead of keeping my eyes on Him, which is what I am trying to do right now.
Tracey, what an encouragement. You are right, we need to keep your eyes focused on Him so that our everyday life does not derail us.
Blessings on your evening and always…