Up the Hill
Picnic table view
surely I could handle a little old bike ride. After a few minutes I knew I was in trouble…the further we went, the further I knew we would have to ride back…I was mad at myself for being weak…I wanted to enjoy the ride…I did at first but then here came the hills, not to mention the new gel seat for my bike turned out to be a torture device and on top of that we didn’t bring water, hello! what were we thinking! I had to get off my bike and walk up hills several times! Finally we stopped to rest on a picnic table and enjoy the scenery I was so exhausted I laid back on the table and looked up…the pic above is what I saw, the clouds were moving slowly by and the sky was clear beautiful blue, it was a delight and so peaceful!
Although I enjoyed the scenery and thanked God for it, I was worried about the ride back and wondered if at some point I should say uncle and ask my dear hubbie to go ahead of me, come back and pick me up in the truck…I just couldn’t do it, but I did entertain the idea for several seconds. There were times vehicles passed us on the trek back and I tried not to look like I was dying…it was embarrassing with all the faces I was making. My legs and lungs burned and screamed…it was terrible! I finally asked my husband if we were getting close to the truck!!!
Finally we rounded the curve after what seemed like an eternity and there it was!!! The truck was so close but yet so far away, there in front of my destination was the hill that I so happily coasted down at the beginning of the ride. I said to myself, “Self, you can finish wimpy and walk in or you can stay on the bike the whole way up the hill and to the truck and finish strong”. I did stay on the bike and used the last bit of effort and strength I had left but I finished!!! My arms and legs were shaky and I was, as my dad used to say, sucking wind! I was so winded I could barely talk but by crackety I finished!!!
After getting a good drink of water and cooling off we went on to Crockett to have lunch…on the way I thought about the experience and decided it was good for me and wasn’t in vain…I would like to try it again…I want to be in better health, be stronger…if I have to run, walk or ride a bike I want to be able to do that without falling apart. What’s weird is after about 30 to 40 minutes I was just fine and wasn’t even tired. I even told my hubbie if I had to I could ride some more, he looked at me like I had lost my mind along the road somewhere
LOL! Anyway…This experience made me think of our race/walk for Christ and God’s Kingdom. We must press on to reach the end. God is calling us, cheering us on but at the same time being patient and allowing us rest to gear up for the next part of the journey. I can say that when I finished it wasn’t pretty or perfect but I did finish, even if I had walked in or even crawled in to the finish line (truck) the fact remains I would have finished! We don’t have to be perfect, just persevere!
As it says in Philippians 2:16 “Let us Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.”
Oh and btw my dear husband Sherman never got off his bike to walk, he had no problems the entire time! He barely felt winded, he waited on me patiently and with kindness and loaded my bike too :-)
More daily bread…
- Philippians 3:14 (Whole Chapter)
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. - 2 Timothy 4:7 (Whole Chapter)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. - Hebrews 12:1 (Whole Chapter)
[ God’s Discipline Proves His Love ] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
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One Response to Up the Hill
Rachel Monahan says: Nila,
This is interesting in that it pictures, in our minds, the challenge, the struggle, and the determination to finish the set course! Just like Paul, you ran with endurance. You threw off the discouragement that was trying to slow you down… and reached the end of the race.
I am proud of you!
Love you,
Mom
This is interesting in that it pictures, in our minds, the challenge, the struggle, and the determination to finish the set course! Just like Paul, you ran with endurance. You threw off the discouragement that was trying to slow you down… and reached the end of the race.
I am proud of you!
Love you,
Mom
