Segway

It was a business trip to Chicago and for the past few years Lynn and I have gotten to tag along with our husbands. They usually have client activities, and lunch and dinner meetings arranged and we are left on our own to explore the city. But on one free afternoon all four of us decided to embark on a segway tour around the museum and park district. I had read about the tours in one of the hotels' "what to do in Chicago" magazines and asked if anyone was up for it and all agreed so we made our reservations and were off. None of us had ever tackled a segway but we were all up for the adventure.

For those of you who are not familiar with a segway, it is a glorified adult mode of scooting around town. It is a balancing machine encased by two large wheels and is operated by standing in an upright position on a wide platform, and clutching and directing the handlebars which sit atop the main centered column. It is simply a test to try stay balanced in the midst of the forward and backward and sideways movement of that centered column. It is set at a governed speed, powered by a battery, and propelled by the manipulation of the handlebars topping the main activity column in the center. In professional terms it is referred to as a "self-balancing, zero emissions personal transportation vehicle" on wheels. We signed our waivers, sized our helmets and were divided into groups of eight for a two hour tour. There was a training video that we were required to watch and then an actual hands on, one on one training session that we participated in once the machines were distributed. Then we were off to see the city, following our leader like little ducks.

The hardest part about riding the segway was getting on and then getting off. Once you were on, it was a matter of general balance. The towered shaft that you held onto was the control center, and to go in either direction, you only would shift the shaft from left to right, or front to back to reverse or stop. I can not tell you how much fun we had, and we surely had our share of laughs as well.

But in reflection, that segway adventure reminded me a little of how I operate my life. It is hard to take the initiative to jump onto something new that has a possibility to enrich our lives. We are faced daily with requests to be on committees , or help out with a project, or donate time and monies to a worthy cause. We make our decisions based on the variables that are before us and the experiences that we have behind us and the hopes that we have in front of us. We got on those segways, knowing they were going to be a mode of transportation to take us somewhere. When we make our decisions in life, we too calculate our goals then reference them against the choices that are before us. When we choose to finally jump on board, we are a little shaky at first because it is new territory, but nevertheless we are willing to try to forgo the fear and commit to the mission. When approaching the segway, once you step on the platform, you learn to negotiate the balanced stance and then begin to get accustomed to the simple operation of the machine and quickly figure out how to maneuver the wheels to go in the direction that you have delegated. So it is when we take on a new challenge.

The first step of any big decision is hard. We have seen the video and personally have been taught the basics. Now it is our turn to kick in. Isn't that the way it is with learning to trust God. We have been taught the basics, we have seen how it works in the lives of others, but if we are to be the recipients of a God directed life then we must step aboard his platform.

The next step is to figure out how to get and keep ourselves balanced when we are aboard. Life is a balancing act. We drive the routes that we know but every once in a while a pothole is before us and we have to make a quick decision as to how to negotiate it and still keep the balance. We try to balance chores, responsibilities, relationships, obligations, dreams and doing the right thing, but sometimes it is an overwhelming task that overshadows the joy of the ride. And at that point we must learn to figure out when to step off, before we fall off. God has a governor on our speed, a course for our actions, and a solution for our dilemmas. But we must stay centered as we submit to stepping aboard His platform.

There were four main parts to this segway:
1) The platform - the place to stand
2) The wheels - the things that move
3) The center column - the base for steering
4) The handlebars - the force that directs

and the analogy falls like this:
1) We stand on God's platform of truth and his word for balance
2) We use our wheels to move according to our obedience
3) We have a center column of consciousness that is generated by our faith and beliefs
4) We have been given the freedom to choose our direction according to God's nudges

There is one more part that I have left for last.
The heart of the matter...the engine. The underneath part, the hidden part that propels, that drives and generates the power. And that power is what enables the machine to move in any direction. God's power is what enables us to perform to our best. The more we tap into it, the stronger we become. For if we do not stayed charged by God's love and grace, then we tend to run sluggish, and lose the ability to charge ahead with courage in his wisdom,his power, his strength, his mercy and grace. Any engine has to be continually recharged to be most effective. Ours is no exception!

It was a grand and new adventure, that segway! And if we approach life with that same willingness; 1) to stand on God's platform and move according to his nudges and 2) trust with all our heart that where he leads us is for his glory and our best, then we are most likely to be able to stay balanced in search of his many opportunities, and in spite of the obstacles that come before us.

Psalm 33:3
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Dear Lord, You are the engine that generates our minds and our bodies. May we stay charged through your power, stand strong on your platform, and maintain balance as we move along on the path that have cleared for us to take. Amen


Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!