Each moment we accomplish. We move forward or backward. We stay on course or get sidetracked to the right or left. There are plenty of distractions to keep chipping away at our resolve. We have desires and duties. We manage some with deft tenacity and others we struggle to keep in balance. We measure ourselves by others and others by ourselves. We sometimes seek to have a positive attitude about ourselves by diminishing our attitude toward others.
There; I’ve said it all and said nothing at all. Then there is the guy we are going to pass up twice. It happened this morning on my way to church. I had several things to take care of before I got there and rushed off to complete my list. As I was heading out I was careful to give plenty of space to the person in the red jacket on the bicycle. Traffic was light so I had no problem accelerating as I swung out wide into the other lane. I thought about how that red jacket with the hood was a good choice for this chilly morning. I made it to each of my chosen destinations and even cut it short where I felt I could.
Finally I was headed to the church. And there up ahead of me well down the road was that red jacket pedaling steadily along heading in the same direction. I thought about how far down the road he had gotten. Then I checked the traffic, eased over into the other lane and rolled passed him again. Why did I have to pass him a second time? I was traveling much faster in my car. I had a carefully thought out list to accomplish. I was on time and on track with where I needed to be.
And so was he. Just as I had my coffee and my defroster going, he had himself prepared for the journey he was on. He had gloves, good posture and a steady pedaling pace. He had obviously done this before. But, I thought again, “I had to pass him twice”. He wasn’t going where I was. But he was going to accomplish his goal as well as I was mine. He was not distracted by my stops that morning. He did not concern himself with my left turn when he needed to go right. His preparation did not include warming up the engine for a few minutes before starting out.
He was not in need of my approval. I acknowledged his presence and made allowance for his involvement in my journey. He did not ask my permission nor seem to give much care for my passing him. He might have noticed I passed him the second time or he might not have. Yet here I was measuring myself and my journey by the journey of someone I did not know. The second time I passed him, I was on track and on schedule. The second time I passed him, he was on track and on schedule. He didn’t need my analysis of his progress. He didn’t appear to be in a hurry.
That seems to be pretty common with God’s people. The journey, I mean. Each of us are traversing a way He has helped us choose. For some of us it is a corrective path. For others it is an obedient path. He knows when we are able to speed along passing others and He knows when it is best for us to get out the red jacket and bicycle. Some folks don’t seem to realize He is part of their journey and so they assume they are totally in control. Some are well aware that He has made all things for His good pleasure and has chosen to give each of us gifts and talents to bring glory to Him.
His word says that when we compare ourselves to ourselves we are not wise. There is within the heart of every soul the ability to do other than what God knows we will do but we won’t. He guides and directs our lives through circumstances and the wisdom of His word. Sometimes His wisdom comes through others; sometimes it comes through a still small voice reminding us that He loves everyone He has created. I can no more evaluate the journey of the red coated bicycle rider that I passed twice than I can know how faithful I will be when I read the instructions He has given.
I had my Bible in my car. I don’t know if he had one on him or even if he owned one. Part of my journey may be to share what I know of it with him someday. Or it may be to listen to his understanding of it to enhance my own. It is possible I will pass him again. It is also possible that this is the only meeting we will ever have in our journeys. Whichever is true, I passed him twice. It was on a crisp sunny morning, He on his bicycle and I in my car. We were staying the course, living our lives, on the paths our journeys would lead. I wonder a little if he thought about being passed twice.