A Helping Hand

It was a number of years ago. The little fellowship in Tullibody, that we headed up at the time, arranged to go to a well-known park in Dunfermline for a Saturday outing. As transport was being arranged, it became clear that we were going to be short of car seating and so, one of our younger men – Dave – suggested that he would cycle the 17/18 miles, and asked if anyone would care to cycle with him. Another couple of young men agreed to do so, and then I was asked if I would travel by bicycle as well. I responded as those who know me well might expect, by saying that I would love to do so, but that I didn’t own a bicycle! “No problem”, said Dave, “I’ve got a spare one that you can borrow”!!


So it came about that, on the agreed date, I mounted a bicycle: for the first time in some twenty years! I discovered, right away, that it’s true – one never forgets how to ride a bike – and, after a wobbly start, I was soon bowling along the very level road from Tullibody, through Alloa, and on towards Kincardine. It was as we turned on to the road that would take us to Dunfermline that the trouble started. That pleasant, level, road started to develop a lot of ups and downs. The latter were okay, but the former seemed to get increasingly steep, and long!


It was as we were going up a particularly long, steep section, and yours truly was “feeling the pain”, that the going suddenly became easier. I was travelling like a man half of my age! The reason was very simple. Having seen the difficulty that I was experiencing, my friend Dave had come up behind me and placed his hand in the small of my back – effectively pushing me up the hill. After that, my journey was much easier, and I arrived at our destination on time, and not too much out of breath!


Life, I was sharing a few posts back, is full of crises, whether large or small. And even being a Christian doesn’t protect one from such situations. However, what the Christian does have is the promise of the best possible Friend, in every situation and circumstance. Jesus comes alongside; places his hand (metaphorically) in the small of my back; and helps me through the difficult stages in life’s journey.


Sadly, I’ve lost contact with Dave. Thankfully, Jesus made a promise: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Heb.13:5). He’s the Friend Who never lets us down, and Who never lets us go.