Most of the time when a speaker says, “Life is like a …”, they drone on for a long time revealing lots of ways that connect their topic to how we view life. Often one or more of those ideas are profound to the audience.

A former professional baseball player named Mudcat Grant came to speak at our high school. When he said, “Life is like a game of baseball,” I was embarrassed at all of the laughter. I do have to admit that I felt like there wasn’t anything else this guy could say since his life was all baseball. He surprised us, and at the end we gave him a standing ovation for how much thought he had put into his analogy including a few profound statements.

I just got back from a bike ride on the trails in the woods. I have my own version to share with you.

“Life is like a bike ride on the trails in the woods…. just keep pedaling.”

No, I did not steal this from Dori when she said in Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming.”

I took a friend on a ride into the trails a year ago. Rounding a corner onto a bridge I was in the lead so that he could follow and see what I do. The wooden bridge swerved in an S curve, then the trail went slightly uphill and to the right. When I had powered my way up the hill I heard from behind me a brief, “Aaaaahhhhh.”

I was able to stop quickly and yell back, “You okay?”

A hardy laughter followed before he claimed, “I went off the bridge.”

“I told you to keep pedaling.”

“I know, I didn’t, then I couldn’t stay on the bridge.”

Trails are narrow and frequently can be covered with loose stones, leaves, or roots from trees. Almost never going straight, they curve left and right with lots of slopes up or down. For almost anything that the trail can throw at a rider, the way to reach the end is… “just keep pedaling”.

Life is like this; it constantly has many obstacles, possible hazards along the path. Just keep pedaling. Steering is more accurate while pedaling, and often most obstacles can be powered through to avoid an even more difficult circumstance.

One last piece of advise – this does not apply to traveling downhill or gliding with speed. Do whatever it takes not to put yourself into the ravine.

Have a Happy Friday.