Christian Living
Training Wheels
©
by
Stephen A. Peterson
As I completed a 6-mile run I came to rest on a park bench for a few minutes at Boys Scout Park in Shawnee, Oklahoma on a 90 plus degree F summer morning. While struggling to catch my breath, I noticed a small girl coming past me on her bright red and white bicycle. As she passed me, she hit a newly fallen acorn that caused her and her bicycle to wobble from side to side in the sweltering Oklahoma heat. She would have fallen over but at the rear of her bicycle was two very small wheels that kept her from falling and perhaps avoiding serious injury. As I watched her straighten her helmet and steady her bicycle, I then recalled the name of those two small wheels—training wheels, for Pete’s sake!
The day was so hot and humid that I decided to sit a while longer and contemplate as to what kept me on the straight and narrow path of life whereas many of the minority men of my generation had gone to prison or had died violently. Of course many of those of a secular persuasion gave and continue to give as THE explanation as racism, bigotry, discrimination. But was this the only explanation? What were my “training wheels” in life? Why did I not fall over in life as did many of my contemporaries, friends and in a couple of instances family.
One “training wheel” was and is my family particularly the efforts of my mother. I have learned so very much from them! Although the village was around the block, it was my family—mother, father, sisters, brothers, relatives and later wife and children and their unconditional love that gave and still give me balance, guidance, character, belongingness, security, harmony and a sense of who I am and how I am to live.
The other “training wheel” was and is the church. It was the wisdom of my parents and family that encouraged me to be an active church participant and not just going to and through ceremonial motions and activities. They also enhanced my life by placing me in a parochial education system that supported and gave meaning to the earlier formative years of life and training efforts. For it is written, “Train up a child in the way he (she) should go”. Due to this patient, often times demanding training, I never did depart from its teachings in a world that openly panders to perversions of every kind. Caring nuns, priests and ministers of Catholicism and associated Christian denominations faithful to the Word of God and their unconditional love has given my life a sense of purpose and meaning, understanding of right and wrong, defineness of living and equilibrium not attainable outside of its sphere of influence as well as wisdom and knowledge of where I came from and where I am going. Now it became clearer to me why so many are emotionally, socially, sexually, philosophically dead living in the culture of the dead and, in fact, are the “living dead” struggling to determine who they are. Their Peter Pan existence and subsequent syndrome gives them no assurances beyond the moment and no meaning to a future.
Balance, training, character building, wisdom—these are the words and their concepts that raced through my once exhausted mind now re-vitalized by a moment of spiritual retreat on a park bench. As I arose from that park bench and walked the four city blocks back home, I was steadied on my training wheels of faith with blessed assurance.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
Stephen, what a great concept! God reveals things in the most extraordinary ways!
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1007 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Stephen A. Peterson or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1007 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.