“I don’t ride, I train.”
That seemingly cocky rebuff should have sent my husband packing. Instead it launched a lifelong friendship, an addiction to cycling, and the foundation for leading a disciplined life.
Dave Croker was the very personification of self control. Athletically lean, chiseled muscle from head to toe, he carried out every detail of his day with militant rigor.
Diet, exercise, work and study all performed in a succinct, cyclical order. These were the ingredients of his life. With added flavors of humility and kindness he had seasoned his recipe to perfection.
Todd met Dave while attending Colorado State University in Organic Chemistry Lab. His easy going nature a stark contrast to the ways of Dave. I picture my husband back then as the perennially happy-go-lucky Golden Retriever and Dave was simply tolerant. Against all odds or perhaps mutual intrigue a friendship ensued.
Having just purchased his first road bike, Todd enthusiastically invited Dave to come along for a ride. This is where he received his first rebuff, “I don’t ride, I train.” Undeterred Todd rose to that challenge, determined to keep up. It only took that first ride, filled with gulps of Colorado mountain air and he was forever hooked. “Training” rides became a daily outlet for the stresses of college studies. The Rocky Mountains served as an endless backdrop of eye-candy for a wary student’s soul.
I met my husband a few years into this friendship with Dave. I believe it was here that he first wrapped his mind around what it meant “to train”. That delicate balance of daily discipline coupled with a mix of humility. A teeter-totter with routine perseverance on one seat and the hunger to learn on the other. Up until this point, Todd was living life as an adventure seeker. Eager to learn he explored whatever new path stretched out before him. Dave became the fulcrum of modeled discipline.
As the years moved on, this training mindset filtered into other areas of our now married life. The study of God’s Word, a loving marriage and family, endurance sports, owning a business, all became areas of daily growth and deeper reliance on a gracious and loving God.
It was a few years ago that our dear friend Dave fought a valiant and yes, disciplined fight with cancer. While he eventually lost the battle, he most decidedly won the war. His recipe for life powerfully taught those who knew him the value of training, discipline and self control. Hiking in the mountains of Colorado we will always hear Dave’s words of wisdom whispering in the Aspens and his deep laughter in the river’s roar. He is deeply missed.
When I read Psalm 18:34a, “He trains my hands for battle” I cannot help but think of Dave and his classic line, “ I don’t ride, I train.” We are not meant to just come along for a ride on life’s most challenging roads. Hopping on a beach cruiser and haplessly meandering along wherever it may take us is a sure way to miss out on the very best that God has for us.
There are a couple definitions of training that hit me square between my often wandering eyes. Let these sit with you for a minute …
Oh, how the Lord has trained both Todd and I in each of these ways numerous times in our life. The absence of this training would leave us reckless and our life a hot mess of confusion. Instead when we have been willing to learn the Lord has turned our recklessness and confusion into order, peace and most importantly growth.
Take a moment to notice a beautiful aspect to the rigors of training that is hinted at in these definitions. An aspect that was displayed magnificently in our friend. Do you see it?
In order to train, in order to live a disciplined and self controlled life there must exist in us a willingness to be taught. A humility that recognizes that in order to be proficient we first need a teacher. In order to be prepared we must learn new skills. In order to grow we must be willing to be bent, pruned and tied until we develop the strength to fly solo. This may be uncomfortable for a season in our lives, but without training we will be rendered useless for the battles and storms ahead. We will never be strong enough for the powerful work and purpose that God prepared for us.
I ask today, Lord, that you not find me riding aimlessly down my life’s path. Thank you for providing precious friends like Dave along the way that exemplify lessons you long for us to know. Find me training and growing stronger in you day by day. May I be ready for the battles and the victories that lie ahead.
