Pedalling Jesus episode 1
A recent bout of enforced driving has made me ponder anew whether all these folks in their cars are aware of the brilliance of bicycles.
On mornings when I can get away without driving to work, I pass the cycling school kids and say hello to the walkers on the bike path. I sail past the long line of traffic on Goose Green Way. The fresh air and the small hill up to Chipping Sodbury wake me up. I lock my bike up outside without parking shenanigans. It costs me no pounds and no pence every time I do it. It’s only 2 miles, but that adds up to 1000+ low carbon, cheap, happy miles per year and hours (days??) of saved time. I’m part of a subversive (and occasionally smug) community that have found a salve for the crisis of well being, physical health and community cohesion which is engulfing our nation.
This subversive feeling meshes very well with my Christian faith. Here I am part of another counter-cultural movement, seeking to restore relationships in society and between people and God. Caring for God’s planet and putting people before profit. Subverting selfishness in my own heart and society and replacing it with the Jesus-shaped, Spirit-empowered kindness of God. There’s no space for smugness in this movement though: it begins and ends with the generous grace of God.
I’d be dishonest if I told you I was a cyclist because I’m a Christian. My dad is a cyclist. His dad was too. I like to ride my bicycle. So I don’t feel that it’s fair or wise for me to foist my lifestyle on others. That said, it does seem obvious to me that if everyone who could cycle did cycle then the NHS, our roads and our communities would all be much healthier.
It also seems plain to me that the world would be a better, kinder, more peaceable and therefore prosperous place if we all followed Jesus. It is impossible for me to foist that on you as it depends on your personal response to an invitation from him. But I will keep going on about it - and probably about cycling too. Welcome to the Pedalling Jesus Blog.
More posts will appear before too long, but if you’re interested to hear more of my musings now, you can read them on my old blog page: https://wottonbaptist.org.uk/ministers-blog/ or listen in to the Two Pastors in a Pub Podcast on Spotify, Itunes, Alexa or however else you do it!