Many of you know that I am going to try my first triathlon in August. I have been diligently searching for a bike that I could borrow for the race, since I want to see if I like it before I lay down money for another bike. Anyway, last week I was able to find and borrow one from a friend of mine – and boy is it a sweet ride.
Anyway, on Saturday morning my training partner suggested we work on the bike/run transition. He suggested that we meet out at the Chickamauga Battlefield, which is a local haunt for bikers. When I pulled into the visitors centers, through the exit, by the way, I found the lower lot almost completely full of vehicles. And every one of these vehicles had some sort of bike carrying device attached. Several of them had some really really nice bikes still attached to the carriers. And then there were the people hanging around getting ready. All of them in their biking outfits and their nice biking shoes – all the cool gear.
Boy, did I feel out-of-place. Especially since I was pulling up in a pair of basic exercise shorts, and running shoes. I had asked my friend to replace the clip pedals on his bike with flat pedals. I felt so out-of-place, that I left the parking lot and went down the road to a smaller 3 space lot that I knew about. Luckily there were two open spots. Just as I called my training partner to adjust our meeting place, another car pulled in and filled up that lot as well. So, I had to go back to the main lot.
Curses – Foiled again!
So, I had to go back to the main lot., and awkwardly I got out, get ready, and started off on our ride – which was great.
When we returned and were cooling down, we stood in amazement of the other bikes, bikers and their gear – until we started talking to them.
Yes, they had the gear. Yes they looked cool. But – they were just like us. Just some guys out riding to make themselves better. Some were training for bigger races – some were just beginners like us. Some rode a farther distance that morning, some traveled shorter than we did.
But in the end – we were all the same – bikers working to get better.
On Sunday morning, the study group I meet with has been studying Romans 12. The teacher for the day, via a video, talked about how we all our insecure – and are all searching.
Remember that as you interact with others today. Despite appearances and approaches, “we all have fallen short of the glory of God”(Romans) and we all are searching. So disregard the cool gear, or that out-of-place feeling and realize that underneath of all that we are more alike than different.
Let’s work together!