Someone I used to know at university had a very powerful and expressive way with words when he was frustrated, especially at table football. One of his favourites was “Christ on a bicycle”. Maybe a bicycle is the twenty first century equivalent of the donkey on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The ‘humble’ symbolism of Palm Sunday is a bit undermined by the fact that the deed was done – and the story was told – intentionally to reflect prophesies about the King. If Jesus was the king, he was at least the people’s king, travelling like an ordinary person. He was for a day or two anyway, until his support drained away.
I was pleased to hear that for the duration of this pandemic, bicycle shops are considered essential – it’s a serious form of transport. It’s also a Christian form of transport, a kingdom form of transport, which considers the needs of others and of the planet above one’s own ego. “Blessed are the meek”, says Jesus. And, FWIW, despite the fact that you have to share the road with some people who drive like ani, your bike will help you to live longer.
This bike picture is from 2013. I haven’t ridden since July 2018, which seems to help my knees. I’m hoping to get started again gently, now we’re here, and when we’re allowed out a bit more.
Funny word, ‘essential’. It seems to mean now what it ought to mean, but for most of the recent past, you’d have been able to read it in the Sunday supplements describing things that were the opposite of essential.
God bless you in all you do,
in your looking out and your staying in,
in happiness and mourning,
in your fearfulness and in your hope.
May God bless you beyond your dreams
and beyond your knowledge.