hills

I suck at hills. Today Karla and I went for a bike ride through downtown, around English Bay, stopped at Starbuck's, rode around Science World and up the hill to home. I approached the hill and thought, "cake". Halfway up the hill I found myself rapidly gearing down cursing the 3 remaining blocks until reprieve. I made it to the top but wondered if my quads would rebel tomorrow in Pilates.

Riding up the hill caused me to think about figurative hills. We all have hills. Short steep hills that just need a little more muscle and a couple of deeper breaths. Long, steady hills that never seem to end. "oh my gosh is this ever going to end?" But it has to end some time. There has to be reprieve. There has to be a flat space where the pedalling can stop and you can just coast. The flat part may not last long and it's just there to prepare you for the next inevitable hill.

I've thought about trying to ride around, both figuratively and literally, without ever going up a hill. It's mostly possible but it's not very challenging and it certainly doesn't result in much. There is no sense of accomplishment. No sense of improvement. No sense of danger. No need for faith. In the long run I guess I need hills; physically, spiritually and emotionally. I guess that's why the bible says, "consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James (the brother of Jesus) 1:2-4