Unexpected Moments

Last night one of the little neighborhood boys invited me to go bike riding with him. I had not had my bike off the ceiling hooks since I moved to Willamina 5 years ago. My first thought was, “Hey that sounds like fun”. Then I remembered that I live on a road called Hill Drive. Guess what? It is one giant hill! Not bad going down but coming up … well the very thought put dread in my heart. But I did not want to be thought of as “no fun” or “an “old woman”, so of course I said yes. I thought about ripping my tongue out of my head after I said it, but I gamely headed out to the shed to get my bike.

The first obstacle was getting to my bike which was hanging from the ceiling of the shed. I am 4’11 inches of strong capable woman ... which leads us to the second obstacle, that was about 12 inches too short to get to the bike. So I stacked boxes, flower pots and anything I thought would bear my weight and gingerly began to climb up to the hanging bike. As the stack wobbled and shifted, I began to wonder if this was really a very good idea? I had just reached up towards the bike, when the whole stack went. I found out that the hooks were sturdy enough to hold the bike and me from the ceiling. Luckily, my little friend came to the rescue and between the two of us, and a lot of sweat and frustration, we were able to get the bicycle down off of the hooks.

I wheeled the bike out and no surprise … (obstacle number three) it had two very flat tires. So I pushed the bike to his house to see if we could pump the tires up with his pump. Unfortunately he lives at the top of Hill Drive. (obstacle number four) By the time I got there I was already beat. So he and I pumped the tires up and we rode our bikes together.

I had soooo much fun. It was exhilarating and wonderful. I had strong doubts that I would be able to get out of bed this morning, but I was so glad that I went and so glad he asked. Sometimes it is easy to let all of the reasons why not to do something win out. But I think it is important to reach beyond what is comfortable and easy.

Last night was a reminder to me, I need to take the time to play, to stretch beyond my normal routine and get up and get moving. It is good to find joy in the unexpected moments and in unexpected ways. I need to recognize them as the gift from God they are. Now If I could just find someone to push me and the bike back up the hill ….

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” Psalm 30:11

Just Connie