If only we would listen

You know how it is when you're a child. You want what others have. I had ridden the bikes of my friends. I wanted a bike. And finally, my day came (around 10 years of age) when I was given a bicycle. My bicycle was blue (imagine that). My brother's bicycle was red (I think). I loved my bike. I appreciated my bike. I rode my bike nonstop. I didn't need instruction because I was an expert at riding it.

At that time, we weren't living in the rural. We were living in Washington, Illinois. My "big" city experience. At some point, after buying our bikes, my parents also bought bikes for themselves so we could ride together-as a family.

One lovely summer day, my folks (after securing my baby sister in her baby bike seat) took us biking on streets that seemed to be far away from our house. Streets that we had only traveled to in our cars.

I was excited.

I was ready.

Of course, we were told the rules. We were (1) to be careful and most of all (2)stay together. We were to listen to and obey the wisdom of our father and mother, because they knew best. That was their job. Our job: listen and obey.

We had a great ride.

But, on our return, I got into my know-it-all mindset. I was so pleased to be riding my bike with the freedom of the road beneath my biker wheels. I am a freedom lover; you should know that about me.

We were at a crossroad where street met street (they might call that an intersection). But the street we were on was the stopping street, you know the street where you stop, look and then cross. It was also a street over a railroad track. We would turn left. If we traveled straight ahead we would fall off into the railroad track.

At some point I threw back my head and yelled for my family to follow me. I wanted to be first. In my defense, I am the first born. I put those little feet to the peddles and started out into the intersection. Fast and hard I peddled.

I didn't see the car.

I heard my parents yelling though. I heard the screeching noise from the brakes. And then-it all went to slow motion. That day I rode my bike into the path of an oncoming car. Burned into my memory is the face of a desperate man who tried so hard not to hit me and all the while steering his car and his family toward the drop off.

I kept steering my bike into the car. Inexperience. Then suddenly it was over. He hadn't hit me. He hadn't gone over the edge. He had stopped his car-literally inches away from me.

I caused grief and a near death experience because I hadn't listened to wisdom and direction. I didn't do what I was suppose to do.

My parents didn't punish me for the disobedience of that day. I think we all knew how close I came to....
l did learn some things.

That was my first experience with angels and how they guard me. "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:11 (NIV)

I also learned that breaking the rules can result in disaster if it is played out. "The wise in heart will accept and obey commandments, but the foolish of lips will fall headlong." Proverbs 10:8 (Amplified)


If only we would listen-sometimes, life might just be a bit less chaotic.




Amplified Bible version source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2010&version=AMP