One of the lamest ways to tweak your knee, hip, and back is by stepping out of your sexy mini-van onto the rolling, water bottle that annoyed you for the past 17 minutes while trying to save your children from being run over in a parking lot. Fifteen minutes before, I had said how annoying it was to hear that bottle rolling around every time we turned. And thanks, Holy Spirit, for redirecting my aim from the dashboard to the backseat before chunking it in an “I-just-stubbed-my-toe-and-I-need-to-punch-something” type of manner.
Side note: Studies show, if you are not a habitual cusser, dropping a few bad words has actually been shown to aid in coping with pain. If you don’t tame that tongue often, the cussing doesn’t help significantly (Arvinen-Barrow et. al., 2024).
Today was the first day since July 2024 that I sat foot (and bum) on the bike that carried me through part of my first sprint triathlon. If you missed out on the details last year, I decided to tri my hand at the three sport event. Swim 200 yards, bike 16.3 miles, run 3.1. I swam 200 yards, hopped on my bike and quickly felt all of the excitement of a child heading off to White Water Bay, got a flat tire, problem-solved and with the help of a passerby, Mike Bosch (check out the Everyday Ironman podcast), and my husband, I was back on the road. Miles more into the bike ride, my luck ran out and my other tire popped. Note to self and others: Don’t be a dummy; change old bike tubes before you go off racing. Rookie mistake.
Thankfully, there must have been a little luck left as I came to a stop right in front of a police officer. We loaded up the bike, ventured back to the bike-in/run-out area, surrendered my ankle monitor (AKA spongey, ankle, race tracker), and asked if I could still run despite my disqualification. By the time I finished the 5K, it was 4000 degrees in the middle of Texas…in the middle of July.
Despite it all, the drive home was filled with excitement to sign up for another…with solid tubes.
After buying solid tubes a few days later; let’s just say my disdain for replacing bike tubes amplified.
The next day I chose to ride my mountain bike since I was having a knockdown, drag-out fight with the street bike. All this time later, I cringe every time I see it and think about changing the tube. Not because of the race day chaos, but because of my attempt to fix it in the middle of my driveway on a hot day in Oklahoma…in the middle of July. Half a mile into my mountain-bike bike ride, my back tire blew. We bought a new tube, took off the tire, realized it was too big, and decided I would nix my tri dreams…for now.
And yes, Kyle and my brother both offered to assist with the tube changing; however, Miss Stubborn Pants Brooke refused assistance and spent nearly a year avoiding the bike. Yesterday, Kyle resolved the problem in less than five minutes. I rolled my eyes at my inability, grabbed my helmet, and went for a ride.
Just as the Holy Spirit redirected my aim from the dashboard to the backseat, there were many angry moments during the driveway-bike-tube-hot-day scenario that required redirection. There were many moments in my frustration, my sadness, my confusion, doubt, plans, fear, pain when the Holy Spirit redirected my thoughts, mind, focus, steps or solidified my faith, courage, comfort, or understanding.
Viktor Frankl stated, “Between stimulus and response there is space.”
This quote grabbed my attention years ago; it’s stuck with me. There are many past moments in which I knew it was the Holy Spirit permeating the space. It was the Holy Spirit redirecting. The Holy Spirit shifting my steps. Giving wisdom or courage or peace; comfort or discomfort. Reminding me of scripture that speaks to His goodness; faithfulness; love.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. (Psalm 112:7)
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (Psalm 46:10)
Shortly after the rolling water bottle incident, my nephew hit me with this riddle:
Zander: “Aunt Brooke, did you know dinosaurs can’t drink water?”
Me: (Distracted) “Why not?”
Zander: “Because they’re dead.”
If only I had placed 7 seconds of space after that stimulus, I bet I could’ve stunned the little guy with my smarts.
Also, if you’re going to tweak your body, have a better story than stepping on a water bottle.
Bye friends. 🙂