Moths and Mouths

Her head jerked back with this awful contorted look on her face. I almost immediately knew what was happening. “Got a Bug? I casually asked.” All she could do was spit and cough and make this really weird sound from deep in her throat. Evidently, not only did she get a bug in her mouth, it must have been timed perfectly with a big inhale. It was deep; it was going to take some patience to get through this. I just hoped she didn’t fall off her bicycle as she was spitting and sputtering with her eyes closed, mouth open and tongue clawing deep to get rid of the intruder.

It was Debbie’s third ride on her new bicycle. I had decided to take a longer circuit on this day and she was doing great. A few remarks about her legs hating her at this moment, and an occasional big breath, but all in all she was stomping on her pedals like an ol’ pro. This is new territory for us and the road we were on was really rough which made it a little more difficult and the butterflies (I think they are from the “army caterpillars”) were really thick. I had made a mental note to try to breath with my mouth shut but did not say anything to Debbie. She had just remarked about how good she was doing considering we were probably about ten miles farther than she had ever ridden before. Just as she completed the sentence the she breathed in and the show started.

At first I thought it was just going to be a cough and spit and clearing of the throat and all would be OK. Who has not eaten a bug on a run or ride before. But this one was not just eaten; it was going to be digested. I almost looked on helplessly as she stayed upright on the bike and found her breath.

Sometimes life is like that. We are riding along, extending our prior records, feeling pretty good about how good we are doing and all of the sudden our eyes close and we spit and sputter as a bug of life just found its way into our balanced existence. The people around us will have various responses. Some will be amused at our reactions, others will want to help but realize they cannot. One thing we can be sure of in these moments we do have a help in God who is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Just like Debbie’s situation, while it could have been bad she was soon over it and looking back on the experience. With the bad taste and just the thought of eating a butterfly she found her stroke again and rode toward her destination. May we have such strength with our “bugs’ in life.