I’m sorry for being away for a while – we sometimes become busy, take on other interests  – life changes. And perhaps that’s what I’ll talk about, in a way, today.

I’ve been riding my bike this summer, a lot. In the past few months, I’ve ridden more than 1,000 miles. It’s how I commute to work, to Quaker meeting, and it’s how I’ve been exploring the local area. I’ve seen some lovely things.

But riding a bicycle for long distances isn’t easy. Hills aren’t easy. Riding into a headwind isn’t easy. But it can start to feel easy-er. Still, that hill you’ve ridden over 100 times isn’t less difficult than it was the very first time. It takes exactly the same amount of energy as it did the first time; assuming you haven’t lost weight or got a lighter bicycle.  Without such a change, that hill is just as high and pedaling the same weight over it takes the same amount of energy – it’s the same amount of work. What does change is our ability to perform that work comfortably. It feels easier because we have become stronger and more adept.

And that’s the life lesson, it seems; the more we get out and do the things that are difficult for us, the more capacity we build to do those difficult things.

I recall one day pedaling to work when a lady pulled up in the lane to my right. She commented on the strength of my legs and how easily I had just climbed a hill. I wanted to tell her that the hill was definitely not easy, but the light changed, and we went different ways. And that was when it struck me that I was making it up that hill faster than I used to. And perhaps after 1,000+ miles, i’m no longer a beginner, but hills are still a challenge. I’m just in a better shape to be able to tackle them. And it’s really no different for other difficult things in life. It’s all about growth. Growing in strength, growing in faith, growing in compassion, growing in trust. When we exercise what we have, it becomes easier to put to use.