Friday, May 05, 2006

Once Upon a Tandem

A few years ago my husband and I were shopping for a picture for our living room and we happened upon this poster called, “Once Upon a Tandem.” We hard-mounted it and it has become the focal point in our living room. It’s proven to be a huge point of conversation about faith in Christ and life in general. It hangs above our love seat, which coincidentally is where I usually sit to read my Bible, pray and reflect. After I’ve finished my time with God, I read this…it serves as a constant reminder (one I need often) of why, even though somedays things don’t make a lot of sense and aren’t smooth sailing, I need to daily lay down my cross and give everything to Him, and trust that He’s the best person to be in the driver’s seat…not me! It's served as a reminder this week, that giving control totally to Him isn't always easy, but it needs to be done, and done as often as necessary, if I want to live life with Him to the fullest potential."

WHEN I INVITED JC
on my bicycle-built-for-two,
I assumed He’d pedal
Instead He’s deadweight
He’s slowing me down. I wonder why I ever let
Him on in the first place.

Finally, I turn and say, “How come you never pedal?”
With a wink and a smile He replies,
“I THOUGHT YOU’D NEVER ASK.”
And so life is better. Easier.
Pedaling with JC,
I get where I’m going faster than ever.
Still, my carefully chosen destinations are never as good as I imagined.

Suddenly,
I REALIZE THAT HE’S BEEN WHISPERING DIRECTIONS TO ME THE WHOLE TIME.
When I take His advice,
We wind up on
shortcuts
and smooth blacktop,
and all roads seem to go downhill.

Then, when I get tired of pedaling,
I put my feet up on the handlebars
And it turns out that
I’ve been slowing Him down!
HE NEVER GETS TIRED.

Nothing I decide,
Could be better than tandem biking
With JC as co-pilot.

But, I’m wrong.
The real fun begins.
When I stop the bike and ask JC to take the front seat
--handlebars and all.

Since then,
I’ve never looked back,
And my oh my,
The places He takes me.

The sights I see.

The scenic routes.
The side roads.
THE BUMPY TRAILS.
The dizzying mountain tops.
The green valleys.
All places I would have missed.

Oh, I still have my own handlebars
and sometimes I hang on for dear life.
But, on a tandem bike
those back handlebars
Can’t steer at all.

I GO WHERE JC GOES.

and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Now you’ve got my feet on the path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way.”
Psalm 16:11 (MSG)

5 comments:

Curious Servant said...

That is SO cool!

Cinder said...

CS ~ Thx for stopping by...it is a really cool poem. It's printed over a picture of two people tandem biking on a hillside overlooking a scenic river. It's really tranquil, especially after reflection, prayer and devotion with God!

Corry said...

That is such a great idea to hard-mount it and put it up! I love the poem!

And you too:-)

God's Grace.

Jenny said...

Cinder, what a fantastic poem. I saw it all in my mind as I read it... and so so true.

Thank you for sharing.

Cinder said...

Corry ~ We've actually found a couple of posters which we've done this to and have a couple more we want to hard-mount...we wanted to have some of our "art" to be a testament to who we are...we have a lot of eagles and some with Isaiah 40:31. We found this poem and knew we wanted it, as it spoke mountains to us from the first time we read it!

I love you too sister ;)

God bless!

Jayleigh ~ I know what you mean... when I read it, I see it all in my mind...there's so much truth in it...for me it speaks to exactly how a walk with Christ is through all aspects of life!

I was glad to share it...talk to you soon.

God bless ;)