Tandem Bicycles

Since living here in Antigua I have always been open to seeing crazy things more often than not. It is just one of those things that happens when you travel I guess. Well, the other day I saw this epic couple on a tandem bicycle riding down the cobblestone roads. While watching them pass by I noticed that they were in perfect unison. This really intrigued me so I started to look up tandem bicycles on the internet. To my amazement, riding on one of them required both riders to work extremely well together. They had to develop trust amongst each other to make riding effective. Of course after a while I started to think about this in my spiritual walk. I wondered what it would look like if Jesus and I were riding tandem together.

The first thing that obviously popped in my head was who was going to ride on the front seat? The forward rider has a lot of responsibility. They are the ones that control where the bicycle is going, you can dub them “The Captain.” They also have the job of keeping the bicycle balanced as you are in motion and at a stop. It always sounds fun to be the captain and make all the decisions, so I definitely wanted that front seat. Sitting there Jesus just said, “Trust me as the captain, the journey will be grand.” While trying to come up with an excuse as to why I wanted to be in the front, I kept seeing that I am not suited to steer, though I have tried so many times in the past. After a long bit I finally chose to let Jesus take that front seat.

The second seat, the back seat, is the power behind the tandem bicycle. They have the important position of managing the speed of the bicycle. They also have to put a lot of trust in the forward rider. For the bike to be at peak performance, the back rider is strapped into his or her seat. This means that they don’t touch the ground, even when they stop. This allows for the bicycle to be balanced by the front rider, which in turn makes it easier to maneuver. After seeing the specifications for the back rider, you can obviously see why I wanted the front riding position. It sounds so cool and it feels safer when you’re in control right? Jesus kept telling me to jump on the backseat and strap in, we are going on a exhilarating ride. 

So the verdict was in, Jesus is “The Captain” and I was the rear rider.

All of this talk about riding on a tandem bicycle reminds me of intimacy with the Lord. It is something that has been an area of growth in this season. Intimacy requires us to put full trust in the other person. Without it, intimacy can fall apart or only get to a certain point. For me, I have been really working through taking my feet off the ground. Like riding the tandem bicycle, I first gave Jesus the front seat, letting Him guide me where He wishes. That is what landed me in Guatemala, trusting in Him leading me. I think my next step is lifting my feet up. I sometimes get scared when Jesus asks me to do something, like taking a turn on the bicycle. I want to put my feet down because I am afraid, afraid of crashing. I want to build up the determination to let go and trust Jesus with the turns.

Another thing that the bicycle shows is that Jesus is allowing me to pace the journey. This doesn’t mean that He is just letting me ease by; He actually pushes me to drive harder. He has given me the responsibility to make the pace and keep it going at a good rate. He is patient when I get exhausted and He is cheering me on when I am exerting myself to get up mountains in front of us. Regardless of my status, He trusts me with my position on the bicycle and He loves me for the work I put in.

I am actually seeing more everyday that intimacy with the Lord requires trust from both ends. I have to let go and trust Him to guide me, steer me, and take me to the place He desires to use me. I have to lift my feet off the ground. He is trusting me to set a pace and also push myself as we travel on this journey. He knows that I have to rest, so He stops, fills me up, and then I keep riding on. And the cool thing about this is that, when tandem riders are in synch with each other, the bicycle is much faster and more efficient than a bicycle for one person. 

So cheers to tandem riding with the Lord, cheers to new adventures and growing in intimacy with Him. If you have not jumped on your tandem bicycle with the Lord, take some time and think about it. The ride is fun and you will not regret the decision. You will be challenged, you will grow in trust, and in intimacy. Take your feet off the ground.