The Bike Rack

     When I first noticed the bike rack, by the entry gates to my subdivision, my thought was what a strange place to park a bike.   Yet, it was completely packed with bikes of all size and colors.   I thought it was interesting that not a single electric scoter was in the mix.   The time of day was midmorning.   Late afternoon, I drove by again.   Every single bike was gone.   As the days passed, the same scene occurred – totally full or completely empty.   Finally, my timing changed.   The Middle School bus and I arrived at the bike rack at the same moment.   A crowd of preteens piled off the bus and onto their “wheels” to ride the rest of their way home.  

As the youth raced up the street, my old soul took a trip down memory lane.   Those of you sharing my ancient generation are smiling as you remember how our bikes were our favorite (and only) means of transportation.   What a reflecting journey back in time to see young people eager (and content) to hop on a bike and ride into the future!!!

     Then, early afternoon one weekday, I was walking the sidewalk outside my community.   Suddenly, I felt ambushed.   Bike after bike after bike kept passing me up from the rear.   However, this time each and every bicycle was being pedaled by a grown-up.   Since when did anyone with a driver’s license choose to pedal a bike instead of turning over an engine?   Definitely, I was in the dark and missing something.   A few blocks up the road, understanding dawned.

     I came upon an Elementary School.   All those adult bike riders who had passed me were stopped outside the school’s fence waiting for their children to be dismissed.   I, too, halted my walk and watched.   Little tykes raced out, found their wheels amongst the flock at the school’s bike racks and then searched for mommy or daddy.   (Yes, daddies were as prevalent in the parents waiting as mommies!)   Once found and united with their parent, off they went as family heading home.

     Witnessing this, I was gratefully astounded.   Who ever said old fashioned families are extinct?   There I was re-living one of the most beautiful moments of family caring and togetherness.   Might not be the norm everywhere, but I guarantee you, in my new hometown the family unit has not been removed from the face of the earth.   Quite the opposite, it is alive, well and flourishing.

     As I headed home, I found myself, once more, being breezed by with packs of parents and their children journeying through life together.   What a blessed time this was.   My heart was filled with deja vu excitement and gratitude.   Newspapers, radios and TVs might spread that parents don’t care, can’t be bothered and that children are spoiled, lazy and evil; but this is not the truth.   Families, as God created them to be, still inhabit earth.

Old fashioned bike riding, parents caring and families sharing – thank you God for reminding me, who could ask for more or accept less?   Not me!!!  How about you???

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6