Bike Path

You know I went through Next Step training following Challenge Day earlier this year and received some transforming information. One of the questions, which I have based the last several devotionals on, is “and how is that like my life?” Last week I had two opportunities to try on a different question … “and how is that like my NEW life?” So, here goes one of the scenarios…



It’s Monday, 20 minutes to 10 a.m. when the book store offers its children’s reading hour. I load the kids in the bike trailer, hop on and head down the highway. Half way there a car blocks the path in front of a small hotel. I steer the bike head on into traffic livid. My two little ones bump along behind be.

Several thoughts go through my head. I stop the bike in clear view of the manager’s office and walk up to the glass window. In a polite tone, the best I can manage, I ask, “Would someone please move that Lexus from the bike path? I just had to drive my kids into traffic.”

A large man jumps up and apologizes as he goes to move the car. I smile and ride on.

Now, what are my choices?

At the corner where I turn into the road, I could keep riding on pissed off at whoever was dumb enough to park on the bike path. “Don’t they know, blah, blah, blah, blah.” I could get angry and stay angry. At the book store I could complain to everyone. I could ruin the atmosphere there and rant on and on, “how awful … how stupid...” We all know someone like that.

But I’m done with anger that’s insidious. Aren’t you? Let the anger spark action. What I said got that guy to move his car and open the path for everyone to use.

“And how is that like my new life?”

What we say and do has the power to bring about change.

It’s the power of God in us if we are children of God. According to 1 John 4:4 the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. Our words and actions change our own life and the lives of others who haven’t even come down the path yet.

Gifted Quill Devotional
By Nancy Lucas
315 words
October 16, 2006

Lifeline

I put the kids to bed and check my husband’s computer for some documents I printed earlier in the day. His computer screen is blank. I move the mouse. Nothing. I push a couple buttons. Nothing. I flip switches. Nothing. With his computer down it knocks out my internet access. I think to myself, “A-H-H-H-H-H. He’s out of town. It’s 8:30 at night. How am I going to get the work done I promised out tonight?”

Then I remember my new neighbor testing his wireless network from the car port the other day. I check. His signal is there. I go knock on their door. His wife answers so I ask if her husband could help me.

He comes over and enters the right pass words to his wireless network. After my files fail to transfer, he says, “Okay. I have something I know will work.”

He throws me a network cable from his front door. It goes through the palm trees and I catch it. I run it over our porch, through the front door and to the office in my bed room. I plug it in. Voila!

It’s 11 p.m. and I can start my work. He’s worked on this for two and a half hours. I try to think what I can offer him as a thank you. Maybe his kids would like the few bags of candies and whoopee cushion my dad just brought back from Georgia.

I get a lifeline and all I have to offer in return is this. How is that like my life?

Jesus died on the cross for my sins – and yours – offering us a lifeline to eternity in Heaven where the streets are gold and a mansion is prepared for us.

And what do I offer in return?

A few moments here. A prayer there. Maybe even an hour in church.

The good news is, like the generous offer from my neighbor, there isn’t anything I could do to earn the lifeline. Ephesians 2:7-9 (The Message) says, “Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving.”

Yes, you and I were created for good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do. But that’s not what earns us a life line. It’s free. Catch it. Take it where you need to. Plug it in.

Nancy Lucas
469 words
October 5, 2006