All About Me?
I love to ride my bike. I even call myself a cycling enthusiast. I’ve been cycling for almost a decade and have had many wonderful rides where I think my best thoughts, work through problems, pray and spend time with God along the Metroparks in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and our golf cart path in Florida.
In the past couple of years, I’ve noticed some changes on my rides. Some scare me. I notice that people walking and sharing the trail with me are using noise cancelling earbuds and headphones more and more. This scares me, first, because those of you who use these devices have made yourselves very vulnerable. You might be watching ahead of you, but you are unaware of what is happening behind you.
I know this because I yell. I yell about 100 feet back that I am approaching, “Passing on your left” in my friendly voice. When there is no response or movement, I ring my bell and yell again - a little more forceful this time. Again, no response. Now I am right on top of you and I scream out that I am approaching and 1 of two things happens. You are startled and jump to the right or you don’t even hear me as I pass by.
I am a nice, friendly biker using proper etiquette when sharing the trail. I often come across as the bad guy because I’ve startled you (I know because you give me a nasty look), but honestly, it is you.
The idea of “me first” has shown itself in my cycling (and my driving), too. On the path, people walk side by side or even three across taking up more than their half of the trail. Approaching from behind or from directly at them doesn’t change the response. Whether these walkers or runners hear me or not, or see me or not, they don’t move. They are on the trail with their group and it doesn’t matter. Even if I have to run off the trail to pass them. I get dirty looks here, too. As a cyclist, running off the road onto the uneven ground is unsafe for me or trying to teeter on the little bit of pavement you've left me isn't safe for either of us. I won’t even go down the road of how unsafe it is for cyclists to ride on the road with drivers texting and driving and swerving to avoid a cyclist that pops into their consciousness at the last second. Think it isn’t a problem? In the Metroparks near my home is a big, electronic sign reminding drivers that it is the law to give cyclists 3 feet when passing.
The “I am the center of the universe” mentality continues with pedestrians that just keep walking right out of the store into the parking lot without even a glance to see if a car is coming. I have no problem waiting for pedestrians. I just need to remind them that cars (and bikes) can’t stop on a dime and not hit you. You have to be a part of what is going on and not just into your own personal space.
All of these scenarios scare me, and make me feel anxious in places that have, in the past, been my sanity and my joy. Places where I leave anxiety and stress behind. More deeply, these scenarios have made me think of our lives together as a community.
What does it mean to be a community? Certainly it means the big things, like sharing burdens, helping the weak and downtrodden. It also involves creating a place where members can thrive, share activities and participate in life together.
What is often forgotten in our busy, I’m am the center of this spinning ball of energy lives is that we are part of something bigger than us individually. We are part of all the people and cars in the parking lot and we are part of all the people using the multipurpose trail – it isn’t ours and we aren’t alone. It is something we share.
In the same way, we share this entire earth and our lives on it. We are called to live in community with others. To share our lives and to reach out to one another. We are not called to isolation or our own way. We need to look out as we cross the street and walk the paths of our lives and see those who share our paths. We need to use earbuds that allow us to hear the cries and joys of others and not block out the sounds of those around us. Literally and figuratively.
We do well when there is a crisis. When the hurricanes and emergencies of life are put right in front of us, most reach out and help or pray or show care and concern in some way. What about our daily walk? Is your head down looking at your smartphone screen or are you engaged moment to moment around you with the people in those moments? Are you thinking about how you can help others navigate their daily walk with simple things that show you understand the community we share?
