I have decided that life is like riding a bicycle.  When you first learn to ride a bicycle you have these wonderful things called “training wheels”.  They are kind of ugly and unbalanced little wheels that keep you upright and stop you from falling over and getting hurt.  The trick is to ride the bicycle without the training wheels touching the ground.  Usually there is a grown-up who holds the seat of the bicycle just to get you started, too.  That person runs alongside of you giving encouragement and advice.  Once you have it mastered the training wheels come off!  Wahoo, what a day that is!  I’m a big girl now!

But wait…..now I have to make sure I balance myself.  There is nothing to protect me should I fall to one side or the other.  Both the training wheels and the grown-up are gone.  It is up to me to straighten the bicycle and keep myself upright and on track.  The more I ride my bicycle the better I get at balance.  I know how to control the bicycle….I can even ride without hands and I learn to do a wheelie.  My confidence rises and I even get a little cocky!  Nobody can tell me anything about riding my bicycle, I know all there is to know.

And then one day…..I get a little dizzy and begin to fall over.  Luckily I put my foot on the ground and catch myself but it scares me.  Later I hit a patch of gravel and the tires seem to spin out of control yet I use my skill and stop the skid.  Yet it scares me!  What is happening?  I thought I knew everything about riding my bicycle.  I understand I need to pay attention as there is always more to learn!  My bicycle can spin out of control even though I think I am doing everything right!  What a lesson….one as important as the first time on the bicycle….bad things can creep in and there is always more to learn so do not get cocky! 

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”  —  Socrates