Piloting Faith: The $1 Bicycle...

A Word for the Day...

A few years ago, this story ran in a small-town newspaper:

The District of Columbia police auctioned off about 100 unclaimed bicycles on Friday. “One dollar,” said an 11-year-old boy as the bidding opened on the first bike. The bidding, however, went much higher. “One dollar,” the boy repeated hopefully each time another bike came up.

The auctioneer, who had been auctioning stolen or lost bikes for 43 years, noticed that the boy’s hopes seemed to soar higher whenever a racer-type bicycle was put up.

Then there was just one racer left. The bidding went to eight dollars. “Sold to that boy over there for nine dollars!” said the auctioneer. He took eight dollars from his own pocket and asked the boy for his dollar. The youngster turned it over in pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters - took his bike, and started to leave. But he went only a few feet. Carefully parking his new possession, he went back, gratefully threw his arms around the auctioneer’s neck, and cried.

What the auctioneer didn’t know was that the boy’s mother was recently diagnosed with cancer, and he came to that auction to buy a bike so that he could run errands to help her. Today, he can be seen riding around our town on a bicycle bought with hope, generosity, and grace.

Can you remember the last time you were brought to tears by a gift of kindness? Or maybe the last time you brought someone else to tears by your kindness?

It is my hope that you experience both today.

- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight

Prayer for the Week

God,

In every season,
In every moment,
May I find Your presence calling me
more fully into myself. Remembering,
I am your beloved child.
You are waiting for me. Always.

Amen.