Learning

As Kevin grew, it became evident that he was fast approaching a time wherein his body had grown sufficient to engage the many activities a young boy naturally confronts.  Among these pursuits was an activity that required a bit of instruction and the practice it required to become proficient in.  While he’d certainly observed friends and associates ride their bicycles and enjoy the transportation such a device affords a young boy, Kevin had patiently waited to be approached by one who would teach him the skill of balance and control he’d need to develop such a talent.  As his father, I’d watched his abilities improve and develop as his muscles and body grew into a young boy.  I’d been observing his progress toward the day that he would learn this new skill and have the talent of balance and control bestowed upon him.  I knew that given the circumstances; I’d need to help him receive this ability in a concentrated time period.  As his father and knowing that such a remembrance would stay with a child for a very long time, I wanted to be the one that would encourage his achievement; regardless of the concentration of time and effort required.  I knew that he could not know the effort it would require of his young soul; and I knew that I did know what would be required.  I only hoped that he would supply the diligence and tenacity that such a concentrated period would require.  Inasmuch as Kevin would likely visit me only for a single day in which we could accomplish this feat; and, inasmuch as I wanted to be the one in his life that would introduce him to the world of two wheels and individual transportation, I’d known for some time that we would be involved in his training for at least the majority of a day devoted to him.

As the Saturday arrived, Kevin was not entirely aware of the exertion and labor that awaited him on the street in front of my home.  Nevertheless, as this young son was led to the bicycle that awaited him, he embraced the bike while trusting his father would not let him be injured as he learned.  Letting him familiarize himself with the seat, the pedals, the handlebars and the pavement from his perch on the seat; I let him ‘ride’ along for a little bit with my hand holding the bicycle erect from behind his seat.  Believing that he’d conquered the rudiments of riding a bicycle, he displayed the smile and grin of a boy who was not yet aware of the control that was yet to grip his cycle and exercise its own control. 

Endeavoring to encourage his forthcoming efforts, I ran behind him; balancing the bicycle as he enjoyed the new skill he was enjoying and still believed he had control.  After several of these excursions of ‘riding his bicycle’, I imparted the instruction that much of the balance he’d needed had been supplied by me.  I then released my hand from beneath his seat and he began to fall.  As his face naturally became alarmed and unsure of the bicycle he’d thought he had control of, I caught him and the bike, reassuring him that I’d be there to help him.  Knowing that I was imparting the control of the bike to him; and knowing that he’d be required to balance the bike while pedaling it and guiding it, he approached his bike with greater trepidation.  Following several excursions with his father running beside him, he slowly began to engage his own wobbly balance of the device as his father provided less and less support to the control needed.  As Kevin fell from time to time and skinned his elbows and knees on the road, it was then that I watched as my young son weathered the scrapes and scuffs of his tumbles and failures.  At times, he showed signs of surrender to the injuries and disappointments he’d experienced in the previous hours of trial and error.  It was then that I strove to offer what encouragement I could.  Knowing that I could help him only as he remained willing to detect the rudiments of riding a bike; my heart quietly skipped a beat now and then as he showed signs of perhaps faltering.

Finally, after hours of his efforts accompanied by my efforts, Kevin began to ride the bicycle he’d been wrestling with most of that Saturday morning and afternoon.  His skill grew rapidly after he’d successfully directed and controlled the bicycle while riding it up and down the street in front of my home.  His spirits also soared as he accomplished what had eluded him only hours earlier.  As reinforcement of his newly acquired skill, we rode our bicycles together in the nearby Creek View Elementary School parking lot during the afternoon hours.  My little son had tackled the obstacle of wheeled transportation and now enjoyed the comradery of bike riders by late afternoon of the same day.  He had wrestled with the enemy of courage and faith and conquered his doubts by applying his fledgling faith and fortitude.  A most impressive triumph for one so young.  And a mindful lesson to his observing father!

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