Learning to Ride a Bike

Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path… Psalm 27:11

When my older daughter was learning to ride a bike, we all gathered in our backyard. The yard had a slight slope and a little bitty hill that would give her the momentum to get going and keep the bike upright. Her daddy took off her training wheels and we were all ready to celebrate her success.

Holly was determined – she was ready to go. As she sat on the bike, she turned to me and said, “Mama, you push me. Don’t let Daddy push me. He’ll push me in that bush.“

I assured Holly that her Daddy would not push her into a bush. She protested, even as her daddy guided her toward the little hill.

Sure enough, as soon as Holly’s dad let go of the bike, it seemed to go on autopilot straight into the bush - just as Holly had predicted.
She ran into the bush, fell, jumped up hollering, and said, “I told you that he would push me into the bush!”

I am afraid that I was little consolation for a few minutes because I was laughing so hard.

Holly didn’t understand that her daddy had absolutely nothing to do with her running into that bush. He had pushed her as straight as an arrow. She steered herself into the bush – all by herself.

Holly had convinced herself that she would go into the bush before her daddy ever let go of the bike – and she did. And when he pushed her from the back, Holly turned her head to keep her eye on him. And when she turned her head to the right, she steered to the left – right into the bush.

When I regained composure, I pushed Holly on her bike. Same path her daddy had pushed her on. This time, though, Holly was sure she would succeed. She kept her eyes straight ahead to the path that she wanted to take. And when she did, she steered that little bike as straight as you please and pedaled across the yard with great ease.

It’s funny, isn’t it, how we sometimes set our fate by our belief or lack of belief that we will succeed? Holly taught me a lot that day. The path to success is in our attitude - and in where we look for our success. Like the little engine that could – if we think we can, we can. And when we set our eyes on Christ, we are surely looking in the right direction.

We steer our own bike. It goes where we tell it to go. And so it is with our lives. I know that is true – but please don’t tell Holly – she still believes that her daddy steered her into the bushes and I saved the day by pushing her in a straight line. I know it’s wrong, but I kind of like being the hero!

Lord, Help me to keep my eyes on you as I steer through my life. You are my focus, Lord. You and only You… Amen