Invincible

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. ~Proverbs 25:11

I was grateful in elementary school that we were allowed to go home for lunch. I’d ride my beautiful blue bike, sailing down the hill, passing cars, and people who would yell, “Hey! Slow down.”  But when I was on my bike, there was no stopping me. I was invincible.

Actually, I felt pretty invincible at just about anything outside of my fourth-grade classroom. On the playground I could run faster, climb higher, jump rope better. In gym, I could definitely out do all the girls and most of the boys. In art, I was the best in my class. In music, I sang my heart, out--never mind I was not always in tune. The teacher loved that I gave it all I had.

When I was home, I did a good job at my chores and when I was done my mother set us free. I’d grab my bike and be off. Back then we had the freedom to go as far as our legs could pedal. In my community that meant I could ride to the mall, or the river, or the city park pool, or to the beaches of Lake Erie.

My bike meant freedom. My bike was my independence. My bike drowned out the thoughts of being incapable in school. My bike made me invincible right up to the time I had to return to school and enter my classroom.

Then, invincible became vulnerable. I sometimes wonder how it is that one person or place can strip away your self-confidence.  How I wish it weren’t true. How I wish we could ride through life being invincible.