Tick—tick—tick—tick. The rhythmic sound of something stuck on bicycle my tire. Still four miles from my destination pulling to a stop, I inspected the front tire first. One quarter spin, nothing. Next quarter spin, a goathead thorn. Not too big, but just enough to punch through.

Leave it in knowing I’ve got four miles to go? It might break off or go deeper causing a flat anyway? Or pull it out and listen closely? I pulled it out. No hiss emanating. Nice. I hopped on to finish the ride.

Then the tire squished too much in a corner. Within site of my destination, I was flat. Though I had a tube and the tools to fix it, I decided to walk it in. I’d fix the flat later.

If you ride a bike, you’re gonna flat. No matter the variables, odds are, sooner or later, you’ll have a flat tire. Bike riding is like that.

What are you going to do about it?

Take to social media decrying poor tire and tube quality. Blame your bad luck to a friend on the phone. Complain of the inconvenience to anyone within earshot until you let the story die. You could.

But, what’s the better thing to do?

Fix your flat.

Certain situations your lips weren’t meant to fix. You gotta use your hands. Put in the time. Do the work.

Life is like that. Some folks say, “S#!% happens.” I say they need their mouth’s washed out. I also say, “Life happens.” The good comes. The bad comes. Sometimes it’s your circumstance. Sometimes it’s your consequence. No matter the cause, what are you going to do about?

Pull over. Stop. Get out your tools. Fix the flat.

Christ followers pursue a continuing love relationship with Jesus. We read our Bibles, pray, study together, share life together, and practice a host of other spiritual disciplines. It's how we spend time in relationship with Jesus. Like any relationship, it takes some work. Yet that very relationship gives us the tools we need to handle whatever life brings.

You’re gonna flat. Be prepared to fix it.

“Search for the Lord and for His strength; seek His face always.”

— ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105:4‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

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