In the Blink of an Eye

Ever felt blindsided by the unexpected? This happened a few years ago while on the Big Island of Hawaii. My husband Pat and I were participating in a group excursion involving a bicycle ride down a mountain. I remember that morning feeling excited from the time we boarded the van at 4:00 a.m. and ascended the long corkscrew road, until arriving at the starting point.

By the time we jumped out of the vehicle, a steady rain was falling, with the temperature hovering somewhere around forty degrees. Rather than risk the cold, and a good soaking, several from our group opted to follow along inside the comfort of the support van. Our guide positioned the rest of us in a single file along the shoulder of the road, where he gave us basic safety instructions.

Soon after, we began our ride down the mountain. Within the first few minutes, it was clear the course would be a bit more challenging than expected. The switchbacks were tight, the road wet and slippery, and the rain had already drenched us to the skin.

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Along the way, not much pedalling was needed since the steep descent forced us to constantly ride the brakes. Frequently our guide received radio alerts from the van, warning of traffic approaching from behind. Each time, we were instructed to pull onto the shoulder until the vehicles safely passed. In this way, we gradually progressed down the mountainside. Starting and stopping. Cold and wet. Blinking eyes to clear away rain.

By now, I was beginning to question the wisdom of continuing the ride, and felt tempted to join the more comfortable folks in the van. That is until the rain began to subside, the temperature warmed, and the clouds cleared. It was then the amazing landscape appeared. Beyond my handlebars I could see bird’s eye views of endless pristine beaches, all surrendering to an untamed sea.

As I began to relax and enjoy the scenic ride, I was startled by a rogue cyclist, not from our group, who flew by me. At the rate of his speed, he could not have known that in front of me, our guide was slowly weaving in and out in a wide serpentine pattern, to save his brakes and control the pace of the group. Thankfully, our guide happened to be swerving inward toward the road's shoulder at just the right moment. Still, the near-miss unnerved us all, especially our guide who shouted angry words at the back of the cyclist who disappeared around the next corner.

In hindsight, the close call left a lasting impression on me, I think because it shed light on a larger spiritual truth - prepare as we might, we will never know with certainty what the immediate future holds. There will always be circumstances beyond our control. That said, we know with God as our guide, we can at least be soul-safe. Because God in His omniscience is all-seeing and all-knowing, only He is qualified to lead us on this epic excursion called life. This is why I choose to follow my Divine Guide.

The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.

Proverbs 14:16