W Is For The Way

The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.
~Ernest Hemingway

I want a plan, I want I map, a clear idea of what’s around each bend. Instead, I’m given a person.

Jesus says, “Follow me.”

The New Testament isn’t a blueprint for religion, but the hope of a new way to live, the shape of a new way to be, our raison d’être turned thrillingly, unpredictably, right-side-up. The early followers of Jesus referred to themselves simply as “The Way.”

From the perspective of the earth-bound and uncurious, these disciples lost everything the world calls important.

From the perspective of eternity, they gained the only thing anyone really needs.

Life!

I offer you a metaphor for this Way, written by an unknown poet:

The Road Of Life

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him.

But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable…It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, “Pedal!”

I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I’d say, “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord’s and mine.

And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I’m learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I’m sure I just can’t do anymore, He just smiles and says…”Pedal.”

~Author Unknown. From Holy Sweat by Tim Hansel

I close with a link to a video, a visceral, visual experience of how thrilling those bike secrets can be.

Are you learning to let go of control?

In our series, An Alphabet Adagio, we are savoring the story of the Bible, our story, alphabetically. You can subscribe to e-mail at the bottom of this website so you don’t have to miss a letter.

Photograph by Melanie Hunt