“No one is right with God. Not even one!" ~ Romans 3:10
Liam learned to ride a two-wheeler
early, successfully mastering balance, steering, and pedaling as if born to
ride. No other task beats bicycling to
boost a child’s confidence.
He loved biking: fresh wind, bright sunlight, clean
fragrances. It meant freedom; a
new-fangled way of having fun. Nary a
day passed when Liam could not be seen galloping his rusty iron horse around
the neighborhood sidewalks and dirt paths.
As he grew into teenhood, he rode bigger bikes – always used
and seldom completely safe: worn brakes, broken reflectors, missing
chainguards. They were all his father
could afford on a teacher’s salary while feeding 5 children. Liam didn’t mind. It was that feeling of motion, speed, and the
chance to ride over grass and mud he craved.
Today after school Liam rode his bike for hours as if the rolling
country road had a way of releasing energy reserves he didn’t know he had. His legs remained in constant motion as
thoughts hung in the moment, admiring each blossom, bird, and leaf. Rubber tires met the road in a sweet love
affair; one that made traveling onward so inviting.
Wheeling back into his neighborhood, he coasted down the
hill, making S- shapes as he careened from the street’s far left to far right,
no great risk at that quiet hour. Flying
down the slope, his speed increased too quickly. Missing the curve, he popped the curb and
tried to brake.
Helmut heard a loud bang and hurried outside, spotting a boy
rising up from the ground and steadying himself. He ran as if the boy were on fire.
“I’m sorry, I’m, so sorry,” Liam repeated. “I think my brakes broke.” They surveyed the damage.
The bike’s front rim formed an irregular oval; its frame twisted
at obscene angles. Salvage value only.
The car’s door was dented and scratched. Fixable for a price.
Liam waited for the owner to get angry and berate him for
what he’d done, expecting punishment or forgiveness at best.
But seeing the frightened teenager cower, Helmut refrained. He understood that what’d happened was
unintentional. Certain the boy was OK; he
forgave the child before helping him carry the wrecked bike home.
To Liam’s surprise, Helmut returned a few days later with a brand-new
red bike for him, complete with working brakes. The boy’s reaction above says it all!
Rather than screaming at the child for making a mistake, Helmut
chose kindness, understanding, and forgiveness.
The word “forgive” literally means “to let go of,” breathing from your heart
as you feel God’s presence. It’s an
attitude choice that honestly recognizes an offense and releases it on the
basis of God’s clemency of us.
