The Infinite Bike Ride

A young girl walked with her Father in Heaven.

“Are you ready for your mortal journey to begin?” He asked

“I’m nervous and scared,” the young girl responded quietly

Seeing her hesitation and trial for bravery, the Father responded in kind and with a story. 

“I understand.” He said

The earth can feel like a lonely place. But this will not be a solitary journey. No, you will have friends and a family designed to help you. To bring you back to me.”

“But what if they don’t?” questioned the girl

“How do I make sure I can come back to you?”

“That is an excellent question. Let me explain it like you were riding a bike along a winding trail. 

While on Earth, you will have a bike to help you along this winding trail. 

Just as promised, you still have agency. 

You can leave the bike, 

You can leave the trail.

You can run, 

You can walk, 

You can climb, 

In the end, it’s up to you. 

But this bike will be important. If you choose to stay, it will carry you to the end, and you will come back. 

But even with a bike and the trail, the ride will be difficult. 

You will have to build endurance, struggle up hills, brave the mountains, hold tight in the wind, and learn control in the rain. 

You will have to learn the gears to navigate these situations and assist in your endurance.

Tires will pop, the seat may tear, and the chain will break.

I would love to fix these problems for you. I would love to send you a perfect, unbreakable bike.

But I cannot do that. 

I promised you agency. 

I promised this journey would be your own. 

Now, this does not mean I will not help you. 

No, I gave you the bike; I created the trail.

Even with the necessary tools, you will have to work really hard to see past the muscle aches, the sunburns, and the discomfort of this long bike ride.

And I am sorry for that.

When you are thrown from your bike

When you pop a tire

When you feel defeated

You will have to choose. 

Will you get back up? Will you leave the bike behind? Even with all the features you need to guide you, even with the safety that it provides, will the struggle be too much? Will you stop with fellow travelers and give up? 

If I do not let you struggle while providing exactly what you need, 

You will not learn to get back up; to get back on.

And that is what I need you to do. 

The journey will feel long, and it will be long. 

But oh, how I want you to come home. I will be cheering you on, sending my angels, sending the breeze to push you along and cool you off, I will provide clouds to shade the sun, friends along the trail, and most importantly, I will provide the trail. 

Follow the trail, follow the path, and you will make it home.”

“Thank you,” said the young girl

“I can be brave. I will make it home.”

The Father, seeing the daughter, understood, smiled with tears filling his eyes, and replied 

“Yes, yes, you will.”