Tandeming Through Fallen Chains

The season has turned, the flowers have bloomed, and the air is finally warm. It's been perfect weather for riding a tandem bike. So the other day my boyfriend thought it would be a great idea to take the tandem on a longer ride on Hill road (a road that a lot of Boise cyclists ride). Of course it was a great idea and I was excited for the adventure! We were ready to be legit tandem(ers) (Yes, that's right, I just said tandemers). So we hit the road with our vintage, blue tandem.

Can I just say that we looked good! I think we even got a few hoops and hollers from motorists and pedestrians. There is just something about two people on one bike that puts a smile on spectators' faces. The first few miles were beautiful! We rode free and clear. Nothing was going to stop us! Wind in our hair. Fresh air on our faces. Freedom on the bike!

And then the chain fell off. Awesome.

We had ridden before where the chain had fallen off so we were not surprised, but seriously? How annoying! Especially after the momentum we had just gained! Thanks to Michael's handy, bike-mechanic skills, he was able to get the chain back on and off we went. 

Wind in our hair. Fresh air on our faces. Speed! Freedom! Laughter!

And then the chain fell off. Again.

We pulled over and I couldn't help but laugh. It seemed impossible for us to get anywhere on the old, rickety tandem. So Michael wrenched on the bike and I sat and laughed.

~ ~ ~ 

To be honest, in the midst of all the fun bike rides, this week has actually been pretty difficult. I kind of feel like my chains in life have completely fallen off and I'm not really sure how to put them back on. My brother moved back to his home town and I lost my job all within 24 hours. The questions of what next... now what... where are you going... what are you doing next....

all thrown on my door step, uninvited. 

Right when I was starting to get traction, momentum, wind in my hair... 

My chains in life fell off. 

~ ~ ~

Michael was able to get the chain back on and again we hit the road. As we rode a little longer, it became pretty obvious what the problem was. Whenever we rush it, went too fast, or hit a bump too hard, the chain fell off. We had to go slow and steady. Once we realized the problem, we got into a groove, "Slow, slow, slow! We don't have to rush! We don't have to push the bike faster than it can handle. Slow and steady! It's a leisurely bike ride," we would remind each other as we started to gain speed. It was pretty clear that the bike was strong enough to handle the ride, we just had to go slow and steady. We couldn't rush it. We couldn't get impatient. We had to take the road at a slow, steady pace. 

The chain stayed on the rest of the ride and we were able to get to our destination, even with some great laughs along the way.

~ ~ ~

And so I remind myself: I've had some set backs. My chain has unexpectedly fallen off, but just as I learned to ride the tandem ~slow and steady~, I can slowly ride my way through questions and life's unexpected bumps and turns. It may be a bumpy road, but if I take it slow and steady, I'll eventually make it to where I'm going... and perhaps I'll even be able to laugh about it.

Home away from Home

I'll admit it, since I've moved to Boise going to church has been a hit or miss kind of happening. But let me tell you, growing up as a PK (pastor's kid), I was at church all the time. I was the kiddo that ran around the church like she owned the place and to be honest, I kind of felt like I did. For years church was my second home. Any time I felt lost or alone, church always helped me feel found again. Sometimes it was about the people. Sometimes it was the sermon. But then there were other times when I sat in a pew in the quiet of the sanctuary with just me and God and I strangely felt at home. You know that feeling like no matter what is going on in the world outside, somehow you know you will be alright because you are home.

I've lost that feeling over the years. Blame it on age. Blame it on distractions of life. Blame it on what I may, I haven't felt at home at church for a long time...

Until this morning...

I visited my friend's church. There was nothing special about the building, the people, or the sermon (sorry), but this morning I was reminded of that feeling. I was reminded that no matter how crazy life gets, how hard or easy things are, I can sit with God in church and feel at home.

I think we all need a home away from home. A safe place that reminds us of who we were, who we are and where we are going. A place that reminds us that no matter how good or bad life gets there is a constant in our lives that keep us on the straight and narrow. As if it grounds us and pushes us forward
 ... For me, that home is church. What's yours?

A New Home

A long time ago I started a series entitled "Home". I abandoned the series due to a lack of direction and inspiration, but after some encouragement to revisit the series and after moving into a new home, I am back here in this theme called "Home". It's interesting how themes come in and out of my life. Please tell me that themes come and go for you too.

My new home is very different from my old home. For years I lived in this tiny little duplex and it fit my needs nicely. It was tiny, cozy, full of time and memories. I had few complaints. But as life changed, so did my desires and my needs. My brother moved in so I needed more space. I wanted to start having friends over. I started to feel like change was needed in order to keep my mind healthy. My home started to feel like it was cramping me. It didn't fit me anymore. Honestly, it took me a while to be alright with that fact, but eventually I started to look for a new home. A home to shelter a different Sheila. A home that could help me grow and change and be who I am.

Now I live in a home. I mean, it's literally a residential home with a front yard and a backyard. I have a deck and a tire swing. I have a fireplace that I love and a dinning room where my beautiful table hosts more than 2 people. My new home fits me now. It fits me in a way that I didn't know I needed. It's giving me new life, a fresh mindset. I'm living life again and my home has helped me in that journey. I never realized how much a home could help give new life.

 There will always be memories from my old place. Just because I don't fit there anymore doesn't make it any less of a home,  it's just not the home I need now.

Allowing myself to change was the first step to my new home.
Now learning to live in it is my next, but it fits me so I'm not worried.