Bike Rides and Bright Futures

Written by Gary Taylor

Two weeks ago I wrote an article about my three-day camping trip sandwiched between 10-mile hikes.  For those of you wondering, I survived.  My fingers that type this article are the only part of my body not sore or still tired.

The day after I returned from the hike, my daughter and I rode bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge.  In our two years living out here in the Bay area, we had driven across the GG Bridge a few times, noticing people biking and walking across.  It seemed like a fun thing to do.  

It turned out to be more than either of us expected. 

The bridge itself was relatively flat.  What I failed to factor into our adventure was the ride from the bike rental store - the hills leading up to the southern ramp of the bridge.  Oh, and then there was the ride back.  Altogether, we rode about 10 miles.  News flash: San Francisco is hilly.

The bridge was packed with pedestrians and cyclists.  During the opening stretch, there were so many people walking or congregating for photos that you couldn't safely ride a bike.  Additionally, cars and trucks whizzed by just a couple feet away.  It was a bit unnerving.  Calleigh looked at me and asked if we could leave the bikes on the bridge, and call a taxi to give us a ride back.  

We were too far to turn around, and she felt too tired to continue.  I reminded her that a Frappuccino was waiting for her when she finished the trek.  It was just enough to get her back in the saddle (the very uncomfortable, chaffing saddle).

Eventually we coasted into Sausalito where we took the ferry back across the bay, going ashore at Pier 49.  While on the ferry's top deck, we gawked at the beauty of the SF skyline, but something else caught my attention: 

I looked at Calleigh, pointed to the Golden Gate Bridge off in the foggy distance, and said, "We have really come a long way.  Aren't you glad you kept pedaling?"

We are in a sermon series called The Future is Bright.  It's a study of 1 Thessalonians which highlights our bright future in heaven, and how that Frappuccino keeps us pedaling up the long, uphill days that mark our life here on earth.  (Did you know that Frappuccino is Italian for "heaven"?  It's not...I just made that up.)

As Calleigh and I sipped our sweet, refreshing drinks at the Starbucks across from the bike shop, we talked about our journey. We recalled our favorite moments and the most spectacular vistas.  We celebrated finishing strong.  We made it!

Someday, when we are in heaven, and earth is merely our foggy past, I plan to have a similar conversation with my daughter.  Remember when life's hills were long and steep, but we didn't quit?  Aren't you glad you didn't turn back?  By God's grace, we made it! 

There we will be, seated with Jesus, sipping the most amazing Frappuccino we've ever had.