Bikes + Burgers: An Iconic Guide to Freedom

I was in The City some days ago, driving down the Embarcadero and I had a vision of what it would be like to stroll freely down the pier, beginning at one side and ending at the other— 

I’d seen those Ford Go Bikes everywhere and had always wanted to try one. So I got to imagining my day: what would it look like to just have fun? 

Would the worries fade as I passed each pier? Would I stop briefly at the oceanside, chill with the seals and cast my fears into the sea? How would the onlookers see me—would they know that this was a freedom ride? 

If I could do anything what would it be? And then on the way back I passed Super Duper Burger. And it hit me—

An adventure like this needed company. One of my girls just had a birthday, and what better gift than freedom. So me, JP (birthday girl) and Meish, two moms and a teacher, daringly set out with no real agenda in mind other than this:

Bikes and Burgers.

The how of it, up for exploration: which station would we rent the bikes from? Do we eat first? How do we unlock these Bikes? Get the app!? I ain’t got enough space on my phone. Whatever the process, we’d do it in our own time and in a way that was particular to us. Freedom. No worries or cares. It was going to happen. 

We got our bikes and were on our way. Down Embarcadero we rode, bike lanes be damned. Picture-perfect moments at every turn; smiles turning strangers to friends. Stopping in places we never would, just because we could. Ordering our burgers for “here” because, what is time? We’d pay the extra 3 bucks for the opportunity to have a little bit more wind in our hair.

Fast forward days later, I sit and wonder: If only God was a Ford Go Bike, this process of fully letting go and trusting would be much easier. 

Not my will, but thine will be done wouldn’t make me cringe; letting someone I can’t see order my steps wouldn’t be such a bad idea; denying myself might be more pleasureable—perhaps I’d carry my cross like a backpack instead of a boulder.

But God isn’t a Ford Go Bike.

Yet, the experience of freedom in Christ is no less real. I understand that I can’t reserve God’s goodness in “unlimited” 30 minute increments. And it’s not that there won’t be bumps in the road and slippery hoses or lanes designated for my safety that I want to get out of. Stop signs, stop lights and passing cars will cause me to wait—sometimes longer than desired. 

And that’s ok. 

Every thing about that day, that experience, was simply about enjoying the journey. No real destination. We were flying free, releasing control. 

And that’s all God is really asking. 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.