1 Trip 2 Adventures

Cruising down the bike trail beneath a beautiful blue sky, pedaling against a warm breeze, I took in the splendor of the surrounding scenery. Grateful to be in the company of good friends, I thanked God for the joy and beauty of the afternoon.

I’d been particularly looking
forward to this day of mountain biking, which was something I’d never tried before. It was part of a two-week adventure trip in South Dakota several summers ago.

At last the day had arrived, and I started off feeling energized and excited!

However, a few kilometers from the trailhead, our group began to encounter its first obstacles. Most of them were mechanical issues. Someone had trouble with the seat staying elevated, another had difficulty shifting gears, and I had a flat tire. My initial reaction was frustration. I just wanted things to go smoothly, the way we’d planned. Despite these challenges, the adults leading the group responded to each situation in a calm and collected manner. Instead of letting the unexpected hinder our progress, they solved the issues in a creative and humble way.

That afternoon, the path steadily declined, and it was the first time all day I’d been able to fully take in my surroundings. The frustration I’d felt earlier that day no longer seemed relevant, and I forgot about trying to force things to fit according to my will. I felt enveloped in God’s love!

On our ride, there was a tunnel we’d aspired to reach as our turnaround point. As we rounded a corner, it came into view. Elated, I broke into a smile.

Then, suddenly, as I entered the tunnel, I lost control and felt my front wheel swerve toward the wall. I was hurled from my bike into the darkness.

Immediately, the others in my group came to a safe stop, while one of the leaders came over to me. We were all Christian Scientists, and she started to help me by saying “the scientific statement of 
being” out loud. This is a familiar passage from Science and Health that I’m used to hearing at the end of my Sunday School lessons each week. It reads: “There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual” (p. 468).

I reasoned that since I was made in God’s image, it was simply impossible for me to express anything but His wholly spiritual nature. This fact was permanent, and had been evident that morning on the downhill, and it was true even at the instant in which I’d fallen. I stuck to these spiritual truths in my thought so that as I was helped to my feet, I was not alarmed by my scrapes and bruises.

The rest of my group attentively supported me in every way. They shared spiritual ideas and helped me while we made a plan. This involved sending two people ahead to notify the Christian Science practitioner who had accompanied us on the trip. Since I was a bit dazed, but alert and actively praying, it was still unclear whether I would be able to bike the remaining distance or not. The chaperone helped bandage and clean my scrapes and cuts. And by the time the practitioner reached us in a vehicle at the roadside about half an hour later, I was feeling perfectly well.

I appreciated how patiently the group stuck with me until I was ready to get back on my bike and start pedaling up the next hill. I was so grateful for the way the rest of the day took shape, even though it hadn’t matched up with my initial plans. I felt so protected by the peace and love I’d been expressing with my friends.

by Emily Osborne

Previously published in the July 13th, 2009 Sentinel