Mike Howerton - The Ride of Your Life: What I Learned about God, Love, and Adventure by Teaching My Son to Ride a Bike

2014 by Mike Howerton

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2014

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-4656-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled Message are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

To protect the privacy of some individuals, some names and details have been changed.

Pastor Mike is a great friend, pastor, and communicator. Its my privilege to pastor alongside him as we share Jesus with Gods favorite city, Seattle. In The Ride of Your Life , Mike shares hard-earned, invaluable lessons from his life. His faithand awesome sense of humorwill inspire you on your own adventure through life.

Judah Smith , lead pastor of The City Church, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus Is ____.

Such a practical, helpful book! Mike Howerton, my longtime friend, uses a basic task of parentingteaching a child to ride a bikeas a launching point for life lessons that will deepen your walk with Jesus and inspire you to develop a more vibrant faith.

Kay Warren , author of Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isnt Enough

If youre looking to recapture the adventure of your faith and all the possibilities that emerge when you embrace it with passion, you cant afford to miss The Ride of Your Life . Mike is the real deal. He speaks from the center of his heart, and hell get you to look at your relationship with God like you never have before. Youre going to love this book!

Les Parrott, PhD , #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love Talk

Life is a lot like learning to ride a bike, and Mike Howerton brilliantly draws out great insights from the Bible for riding well. I loved the creativity and simplicity in thinking about how to keep my own balance and how to get up when I fall. Through it all, Mike compassionately points to the God of second chances who is available to help us move forward. This is a great book to read and share!

Jud Wilhite , senior pastor of Central Christian Church, author of The God of Yes

Sometimes the most important lesson isnt a new lesson. Its reapplying simple truths that are often lost in the busyness and clutter of life. Im not going to lie: The Ride of Your Life is simpleso simple that its profound and refreshing. No matter where we are on the journey of following Christ, Mike Howerton helps us rediscover the courage and joy we need to pursue the convictions that God has placed upon our hearts.

Eugene Cho , lead pastor of Quest Church Seattle, author of Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?

Mike Howertons The Ride of Your Life is wonderfulwinsome, adventurous, wise, and practicalfull of valuable life concepts with heartfelt stories that bring it to life! Reading it is as pleasant as a summer evenings bike ride.

Tom Flick , President of Tom Flick Communications, Leadership Speaker for Kotter International

Whether Mike Howerton is speaking or writing, I am leaning in. Rarely is there a new, fresh voice that speaks deeply to life, and Mikes is one of those. I found myself laughing hard, thinking deeply, and wanting to be different. I think you will too. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Doug Fields , bestselling author of Refuel and Be Her Hero: The One Your Wife Has Been Waiting For

I dedicate this book to the fine people of Overlake Christian Church. You are truly the best church family I know at making the most radical difference in this world and building a beautiful culture of worship balanced by outlandish love. You make this a great place to be on the journey and an incredible place to raise my family, and I love you. Thank you for taking this ride with me.

Contents

Vignette

I have a five-year-old friend named Lola.

Last week she learned to ride her bike, mastering the principles found in this book.

Her dad, one of my best friends, showed me a picture he took of her after she learned to ride.

Her shock of red hair is a bit tangled, messy with summer sunshine and sweat. She is sitting so that both her knees and her elbows are visible, and all are sporting fresh battle wounds: raspberries and grass stains.

But her smile radiates. There is no hint of grief over her skinned knees hidden in her expression. Her eyes are steadfast with self-assurance. And I see joy. Not the shallow, flippant joy that comes from some passing novelty. She has put the training wheels away for good. Forevermore, shes a joyful rider of the bicycle.

Lolas is the hard-fought joy that comes from overcoming and expanding her world.

Maybe its been a while. But its high time for you to experience that joy again.

Introduction

When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

It came to a boiling point one summer afternoon.

I pulled my car in the driveway after work, just in time to witness my son hurling his bike to the ground in frustration, his face red and tearful. If I couldnt already read it clearly in my wifes expression, she spelled it out for me: Hes your son, she said through clenched teeth. You need to teach him to ride this bike. Then she turned and left, the bike jumbled at an odd angle but dominating the scene like a talisman of failure, a metal sculpture askew with defeat.

Caleb, buddy, come over here. I knelt down to his level.

He picked up his bike and walked slowly over. My mind was racing. I shot up a silent prayer. And suddenly, miraculously, I knew how I needed to approach his instruction.

Caleb, I said, Ill teach you how to ride your bike. No problem at all. (I was curious to hear where I was heading with this.)

It will take five days. (Five? Where in the world did I get five?)

Each day Ill teach you one lesson, and well practice together. By the weekend, youll be the Jedi Master of the two-wheeled set. (I was inspired from on high and the poetry was beginning to flow.)

The neighbor kids will rise up and call you blessed. Does that sound good?

He nodded his head, wiped the tears from his eyes. Okay, Dad. The boy was game.

Earnest but with compassion, I said, Son, we will focus hard on each lesson for twenty minutes. But when Daddy says the lesson is over, its over. We give each other high fives, put the bike in the garage, and go inside to drink lemonade. Deal? I extended my hand. With wide eyes he soulfully, sincerely shook my hand. He wanted this badly. He was ready to believe.