who's in control -

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge; keeping track of the things I did wrong so as to know whether I merit heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sorta 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 it was rather like a bike-ride. But it was a tandem bike and I noted that Christ was in the back, helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was, but he suggested we change places. And 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 points between two points. But when he took the lead, he knew the delightful longcuts. Up-mountains and thru-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? Where are you taking me?’

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 said, ‘I’m scared!’, he’d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people w/ gifts I needed – 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 gave to the people we met. But 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 the bike’s secrets – he knows how to make it bend, take sharp corners; he knows how to jump to clear high rocks. He even knows how to fly to shorten scary passages. Now 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 anymore, he just smiles and says, ‘Pedal! Pedal!

Quoted by, C. Swindoll