Memory makers from a bicycle
The rusty, green bicycle story brings back another bicycle memory of mine that isn’t a pleasant one. This one goes back to when I was about eight years old.
I had been playing street ball one evening with my friends. Because we didn’t have a yard big enough, we would play in the streets. On this particular day, my job was to pitch. Pitching wasn’t my favorite position, but I suppose everyone needs to take a turn at the mound. Today, it was my turn.
I was standing in the middle of the road in front of my house, pitching the ball to my friends. Usually, I don’t get excited over pitching because you essentially stand in one place. I like to run around the field, move left and right, backward and forwards. Being a pitcher is a crucial position, but I’d rather be shortstop or outfield.
Pitching and minding my business
On this day, I threw the ball, and my friend hit it, knocking it well into the outfield (technically another neighbor’s yard). As I turned around to follow the ball, my eyes spotted a guy in his early twenties riding a white ten-speed bicycle – right toward me.
Our eyes met
I moved out of his way, but he followed. His eyes locked on mine. I started running, and he followed. I ran from one side of the street to the other, and he still pursued. He was purposely chasing me with his ten-speed bicycle. My friends stood still. They were helpless to do anything.
Tired and scared
Eventually, I grew tired of trying to outrun this guy. Honestly, I don’t know why I didn’t run straight for my house.
A few seconds later, what seemed like forever, he caught up to me and knocked me down with his front tire. In the blink of an eye, he ran me over in the middle of the street with his white ten-speed bicycle.
When I lifted my head, he was already riding away as fast as he could.
I just got run over
After a few seconds, I got up and ran to my house, throwing the front door open, frantically crying and screaming I’d been run over in the middle of the street. One’s mind naturally goes to horrific images of being run over by a car, and I can understand that thought process. After all, it’s not every day you get run over by a bicycle.
As everyone tried to calm me down, I told them what happened. My stepbrother grabbed the keys to his car and drove off in the direction I pointed. He chased the guy down, found him and well, let’s say, I don’t think the guy was able to ride that bicycle anymore. I was too young for the details of their exchange.
Sometimes the chase is daily
This story makes me think of what Satan tries with us. He comes after us in hopes of knocking us down. He chases us and works to wear us out so that eventually we will fall. And when we fall, he runs us over, hoping to kill our spirit, hoping we’ll give in and give up.
What does the Bible say?
The Bible says Satan prowls around like a roaring lion. Look at what it says in 1 Peter 5:8:
“Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.”
Satan comes in many forms and fashions, so we have to be alert and stay close to the Lord. If you go onto reading verse 9, it talks about resisting and staying strong in your faith.
Let’s pray
Father, I pray we remain strong in you and resist the enemy. Lord, I pray we recognize when someone is “chasing us” down. Father, I pray we draw closer to you more and more every day. Amen.
In His Service
Jeanette Duby, The Teaching Lady
What is the Basis of our Faith?
#bible #roaringlion #jesus #theteachinglady
Recent Comments