" '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 the 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 it was 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! Pedal!"  I worried; I was anxious, and I asked, "Where are You taking me?" and He laughed and didn't answer--and I started to learn to trust.  I forgot my boring life and entered into His 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, people with gifts of healing and acceptance and joy; they gave me gifts to take on my journey--my Lord's and mine--and we were off again.  He'd say, "Give those gifts away, now; 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 didn't trust Him at first, in control of my life; I thought He'd wreck it.  But He knows bike secrets.  He knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners; He knows how to jump to clear high rocks.  He even 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, and my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ; and when I'm sure I just can't do any more, He just smiles and says, "Pedal! Pedal!" ' "