Dear Family and Friends,
Today was one of those unique days when you think you may have been listening to the spirit and you weren’t afraid to speak up.
This morning we had the “Bike Rodeo” which is something Bishop Alexander loves to do each year. Last year not one child showed up which had to be discouraging, but not so much that he didn’t announce and plan it for this year, showing up early and setting things up, long before the first child arrived. We had 5 show up in all sizes, both of participants and of bikes.
They started out by riding the course several times for practice, so they could get the lay out fixed in their minds. Bishop Alexander and Sister Allen had come early and marked out a course with arrows and cones, so it was pretty easy to walk the route, then ride it a few times before they had to do it for real.
Keep in mind that these kids are pretty “green” when it comes to riding their bikes and the blowing sand tends to get into the moving parts of the bikes making it a little more challenging to ride them. Today we lucked out and the wind didn’t start blowing until after the rodeo, so that was pretty great.
The “timed” course was pretty fun and there were several do-overs for most of the participants, SO everyone laughed and had a lot of fun.
The most challenging event came when they had to ride between two lines, which started out at about 18” apart, but narrowed each time they changed lanes. The last one was probably 6 inches apart. Now you have to keep in mind that these little people struggle to stay balanced and now they had to ride between narrow lined lanes. One little girl named Autumn, was really struggling and could not stay on course. She kept looking down and could not drive straight or stay balanced. Her folks wanted her to be successful but it just wasn’t happening.
Finally I walked over and said to the parents, tell her to ride to you, not look down, but look at your face and listen to your voice cheering her on. Mom went to the start line and dad stayed at the finish line. Once she stayed focused on his face and listened to his voice she was able to make it with very little problems staying inside the lines. Hurray for Autumn, she won the battle.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good acheer; it is I; be not afraid.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was aafraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little afaith, wherefore didst thou bdoubt?
Matt 14:29-31
Are we not the same? When we are distracted by the “waves and noise” and fail to look up, we have a tough time staying on course, but when we look up and listen to the “still small voice” we can stay on course. How often we forget who and what is at the end of the course. He wants us to succeed, to stay within the lines which have been clearly marked, and when the way gets tough, keep looking up and listening to the voice that is cheering us on.
I pray that we can remember Autumn and more importantly remember Him.
Elder & Sister Olson
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