Tend Speed

When we moved to our home a decade ago, I had dabbled in cycling. Actually, “dabbled” is too generous of a word. I knew how to ride a bike. My wife and I told ourselves we would ride all the time given that our house sits on a popular trail. My parents got me a new road bike for my birthday and my sister-in-law gave a nice, older bike that she no longer used to my wife Tricia. I installed some very sturdy hooks in my garage and the bikes rested comfortably on them until last week.

One day, as I completed my quarterly decluttering of the garage, I decided it was time to remove the bikes. While I usually just bring decluttered items to Green Drop, I was sure that, despite the dust, these bikes would be ideal for a trade-in for something more my ten-speed — perhaps something with a basket on the front. After some research, I gave both bikes a quick dusting, loaded them into my car and wheeled them confidently into a store, and expecting a huge return.

Within about three minutes, the manager came out and offered me less money than it cost me to fill up my car with gas to get to the store. “Did I mention they have been barely used?” I bartered. “Yes, but you didn’t mention that one of the bikes was made the year I was born,” said the manager. “Just because it’s not used doesn’t mean it still works. Lack of use usually means lack of proper maintenance.”

The trade-in for both bikes barely covered the sales tax on my new beach cruiser (basket not included). As I drove home feeling like a failure, I couldn’t help but think of all the other things hanging around my house. I was reminded of how many things we cling to in life and leadership that once had value but now are gathering literal or metaphorical dust because we don’t maintain or use them. Whether it be a program or a building, a function or even a bit of knowledge, what I am not using and not maintaining and — why? If I don’t value it enough to take it off the shelf, why should I expect others to do so? Despite my nostalgia for it, does it serve the present moment? Does it simply need a tune up or has its mission come to completion?

I decided not to hang the new bike on the hooks to prompt better usage. As we begin this new week, let’s be on the lookout for those things in our lives that might need to be traded in and those that the Lord calls us to dust off, tune up, and put back to use for His mission.