Riding In Tandem

As I was dusting, I glanced at it on the wall.
The old fashioned bike.
A velocipede.

Large wheel in the front, with small handlebars and a seat.
Small wheel in the back…looking almost too small to hold any weight.

I have a replica of a velocipede hanging on the wall of my living room.
It is right near our grand piano.
It is there because of my dream.

I tend to dream very vividly.
One night, I had an interesting dream.

I was driving in a large SUV at the beach…right along the water’s edge.
Out of the water rose a velocipede with a man in a suit and a bowler hat.
The man looked at me and tipped his hat.

The man was peddling the velocipede.
The velocipede was also powered with what looked like tea kettles.
The lids were flapping and steam was coming out.

In my dream, I stopped the SUV to watch the velocipede.
I was fascinated by this machine.
The man peddled on…the tea kettles were flapping.

When I told my dream the next morning, the looks I received were priceless.
No one knew what to do with me.
It was a strange dream that I’m sure can be wildly interpreted.

To me, it was a tender dream.
The old fashioned meets the new…right at the water’s edge.

Growing up, there was a family in our neighborhood with seven children.
They had a bicycle built for two.
What fun that was to ride!

If you were in the front, and had someone a bit lazy in the back, you did all the work.
If you both peddled together, you could go a lot faster with ease.
Riding in tandem.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

The Christian life is not unicycle riding.
The Christian life is riding in tandem.
One-anothering.

Encouraging each other in the Lord.
Helping each other press on.
Praying for each other.

How sad to sit on the sidelines and allow everyone else to do the work.
It is no different than sitting on the back of a bicycle built for two…not pedaling.
One person is doing all the work instead of sharing the burden.
Two, working together, lightens the load.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
(Galatians 6:2)

Riding a bicycle built for two, and not pedaling, is cheating the rider in front.
It may look like you are putting forth the effort.
You may even have your feet on the pedals.
But in reality, you are moving simply because someone else is doing the work.

We each have a job to do…whether we are out in front…or in the background.
It lightens the load if we can work together.

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. (Mark 6:6,7)

Jesus knew the benefit of sending the Twelve on mission…two by two.
Protection…encouragement…support.
Two would accomplish so much more for the Kingdom.

Even now, two is so much better than one.
There should be no Lone Ranger Christians.
We need each other.

No unicycle riding on this journey.
Riding in tandem.
Pressing on…together..for His Glory.