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Soar on Wings Like Eagles
This past week, I had the awesome opportunity to teach my 8 year old son how to ride a bike. He hadn’t really been on a bike in a while. His old one had training wheels, 12 inch wheels and he was way too big for it. We went to a local store and picked out a 20 inch BMX-style stunt bike and a cool Razor helmet. Everything must have seemed surreal to him as he was rolling his bike through the store and out to the parking lot to place it into the back of the van. The excitement glowed in his eyes and he couldn’t stop smiling. Lots of questions, though, since it was so much bigger than his old bike.
The moment we got home, he wanted to take it out of the van and start riding. I was tired from the work day and it was starting to get dark, but he was so happy and proud of his new bike that we had to get going on lesson #1.
Lesson #1: basically involved getting familiar with the bike. He learned how to get on and off without falling down and how to move it around. I purposely let him struggle with it a little bit, so he could get used to manhandling it. Then, I let him get on it and he peddled around while I held it up. A couple trips up and down the street, and he was tired.
Lesson #2: was about the same as lesson #1, except we spent more time walking up and down the street. I had him spend some time learning to brake, stop and stick his foot out to catch himself once the bike stopped moving.
Lesson#3: actually was a couple of days long. This was just doing the same, but trying to let go and see if he could balance the bike by himself.
Lesson #4: was the final lesson. He was able to pedal without me holding him up for a few seconds at a time, but would freak out at that feeling and have to stop. We worked on that for a while and I kept telling him to not be afraid. Just keep peddling and keep going!
He paused for a few minute break, and then went back to it. After a few tries, he just went all by himself. It was absolutely amazing watching him just ride off and just keep going. He was so excited and couldn’t get off the bike. If I didn’t call him in before dark, he would have probably kept going!
It wasn’t long before he wanted to “race” everyone. In fact, the very next day, we had company over for dinner and they brought their 6 year old and his bike. Of course, the bike was on training wheels, but the kid could fly on that thing! He kept challenging my son to a race and he accepted. It was pretty funny, but had to tell them to take it down a notch since he just figured out how to ride.
A few more days went by, and after a bit of rain, the weather cleared up. My son was at it again, riding all over the place. He loves his bike and loves being able to have the freedom a bicycle brings. I walked outside to see how he was doing and asked, “having fun?” He answered me by saying, “Yeah. I’m pretending that my face is full of fire and I’m the Ghost Rider.”
I thought about that statement and how far he came in just a few weeks. I started thinking about how God works in our lives. He often blesses us with things that we may not know the full details of yet. In those blessings, he may open the doors for you to excel in that gift or item. God patiently waits for you to get good at that gift and even guides you or helps you along the way. I can’t begin to count how many times I’ve witnessed it in my own life!
One day, you will find yourself very talented with that gift and it’s almost like God let go of you and lets you take off. Not that He leaves you, but lets you be free with that gift, to maximize the joy and fulfillment you have with it. A verse that comes to mind is from the Book of Isaiah from the Old Testament of the Bible.
Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
I say, when God blesses you with a gift and you find yourself passionate about it, good at it and love to share it with others, fly like an eagle, man! Use your imagination and go where your heart takes you. God is not about setting limitations on you and never wants you to be unhappy. He is all about people taking their gifts, passions and desires to the maximum. Remember that they are meant to bring honor to Himself, but when you use them to build others up and generally make life better, people will see Jesus in you and will want the same for your life.
What gifts has God given you? What are you passionate about? Go live that dream and you will be completely in God’s will!