Gifts from Heaven ... Rivers of Light (2) Newsletter article

 Article

• Author: Dale R. Peterson is pastor at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.
• Updated: 03/12/2008
• Copyright: Mount Olivet Lutheran Church,
  5025 Knox Ave S,
  Minneapolis, MN 55419-1095

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church's pastoral staff and parishioners wrote five articles for the congregation's newsletter, the Mount Olivet Weekly Visitor, for this stewardship campaign. Following is Dale Peterson's contribution to the series, which appeared in the Aug. 14, 2003, edition.

For a full overview of this stewardship series, click on
Mount Olivet stewardship.

Gifts from Heaven ... Rivers of Light

I ride my bicycle a lot during the summer and into the fall. When I read the following story from an unknown author, it reminded me of the joy we share as we receive God's gifts from heaven and live in God's rivers of light.

The Road of Life

At first, I saw Jesus Christ 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 I really didn't know him.

But later on when I really met Jesus, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride. It was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Jesus 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 Jesus 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. I gained love, peace, acceptance and joy -- 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 I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

At first, I did not trust Jesus to control 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 it anymore, he just smiles and says ... "Pedal."

May God bless you as we "pedal" together with Jesus into the fall and generously share our gifts along the way.

Gifts from Heaven ... Rivers of Light (1)
Newsletter article

Gifts from Heaven ... Rivers of Light (3)
Newsletter article  

Gifts from Heaven ... Rivers of Light (4)
Newsletter article

Gifts from Heaven ... Rivers of Light (5)
Newsletter article