21 July 2008

Thoughts on a Bike Ride

I was without a car for much of today, so when my dentist appointment rolled around, I jumped on my bike and rode to Worden. It gave time to think, and one of the things I was thinking about was the place of hope.

As Lutheran Christians we know what to do with faith and with love. We pray that the Sacrament strengthen us in faith towards God and in fervent love toward another. We know that the Christian lives outside himself; he lives in God by faith and in his neighbor by love. But where's the THIRD of the cardinal virtues: hope?

I wondered if they weren't all three united in this way: our hope is the certainty of our faith, that one day love will prevail; that as it prevailed already in the Crucified and Risen Son of God, so through Him it will prevail ultimately in all things. Our hope is the faith that love never ends and cannot fail.
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4 comments:

  1. Rev. Eric J Brown10:45 PM

    It has been said that we end up doing the best theological thinking when we are oppressed by Satan, forcing us to not rely upon ourselves but rather look to Christ.

    The depth of your insights whilst riding help confirm my belief that bicycles are foul tools of Satan, forged in the pits of hell by Lucifer himself.

    Did I mention that I don't know how to ride a bike? And I will affirm that bikes are semper malum =o)

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  2. Lutheran Lucciola1:03 AM

    I will also be without a car tomorrow, but will be hoofing it to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) for the city.

    Funny thing, I was just thinking of the exact subject you speak of a few days ago.

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  3. Rev. Robert Franck9:54 AM

    More a comment about bike riding.

    I ride my recumbent tricycle (a red EZ3) as much as I can. I love being outside, and the 2 miles to church and back home gives me a bit of exercise. I visit and run errands, too, including grocery shopping, library, etc. It's a great vehicle for Duluth, yes, even on the hills.

    But you know what is really ironic? While riding home yesterday on my bike, I was listening to YOU, reviewing one of your "Historic Liturgy" programs from Issues, Etc., to help me prepare my August newsletter article.

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  4. William Weedon10:29 PM

    Pr. Brown,

    LOL!

    Lucciola,

    Odd, eh?

    Pr. Franck,

    Isn't that weird. And I do think recumbent bikes are a hoot, but I love my old fashioned "upright."

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