A rare find.  An elusive look.  A unique character. 

Stands out in a crowd.  Turns heads.  Captures one's attention.  Stimulates conversation.  Debunks normality. 

Regular maintenance.  Mercifully creative.  Outside of the box.  Philosophically different.  Unexpected.  Unnatural.  Unworldly. 

Is this the description of a zebra poodle ... or that of a practicing Catholic? 

Think about it. 

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind ..." - Romans 12:2

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die.  He was out there sort of like a president.  I recognized His picture when I saw it, but really didn't know Him. 

But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride.  But it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.  I don't know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.  When I had control, I knew the way.  It was rather boring, but predictable…it was the shortest distance between two points. 

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds.  It was all I could do to hang on!  Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"  I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?"  He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust.  I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.  And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. 

He took me to people with gifts of healing, acceptance and joy.  They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine.  And we were off again.  He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight."  So I did, to the people we met, and found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light. 

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life.  I thought He'd wreck it; but He knows bike secrets.  Knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.  And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places.  And I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ. 

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says…"Pedal."

--"The Road of Life", author unknown