Lessons While Cycling – Staying Focused While Climbing

I ride my bicycle to commune with God; the exercise is icing on the cake. Our conversations are most often about people He has me praying for, conversations I need to have with others, or lessons we are preparing to write or teach. Every once in a while, God uses the ride to show me something about myself and/or His kingdom.

Here’s one from the other day.

Distractions are a big part of cycling – passing cars and approaching dogs in particular. Most are not a threat, but it only takes one. Having to deal with them on a regular basis has taught me to allow distraction when necessary, and then get back to matter at hand. It has become a natural part of the process.

I wish I could say the same about hills.

Hills are different than cars and dogs. They don’t generate the same adrenaline spike as a ferocious dog on the loose or a driver passing on a hill. In fact, they don’t scare me at all. On the other hand, they last longer, the distress builds over time, and the distraction is real and present discomfort and pain.

Hills are a major distraction to my communion with God.

For me, hills are a metaphor for the challenging seasons of our lives. These may be momentary, lengthy, or any amount of time in between. God has used the hills in my life to reveal a few things about myself and my relationship with Him:

1. The more I focus on the pain, the greater the pain becomes.
2. When I set my mind on things above, the hill is not only less of a distraction, but easier to navigate.
3. The approach I take has a dramatically positive effect on my mental and physical response to the effort after cresting the hill.
4. It occurs to me as I write this that having a riding partner to remind me of these things – and encourage me in them during the climb – would be an incredible blessing.

inLight Adventure – Lessons While Riding

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

To the beloved, whom I love in truth:  I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers; just as you walk in the truth.

God speaks when we surrender to the desire in our hearts to hear from Him. This is true beyond our “quiet times” – even while we are exercising (or working in the yard, painting the house, etc).

Most of you know that I ride a bicycle for exercise. I also ride to hear from God. As long as I go out most interested in hearing what He has to say, He always says something.

Sometimes we discuss His plans for my work. Sometimes we talk about a decision I have to make, or a situation I am dealing with. Several times, He has shown me a spiritual truth through my cycling. Here’s a recent example:

There is a form to cycling that is most efficient and productive. It varies by individual; and individuals have different keys to help them maintain good form. For me that is “butt back, hips forward and heels down”.

Maintaining form is most difficult when it is most needed. When the hill won’t end soon enough – particularly at the end of a ride – I find myself reverting back to old habits. I move up on the seat, roll my back and start pedaling through my toes.