by Reba J. Hoffman, Ph.D.
Four weeks ago, I was riding
my bicycle from McKleansboro, Illinois to Henderson, Kentucky on the Road to Freedom
Tour when the unthinkable happened. I was climbing the bridge over the
Wabash River when a ligament in my knee ripped.
Though I made it over the
bridge and was able to pull off the road, my nightmare was far from over. I was
stranded on the side of the road for over two hours before I could be rescued.
Each time I tried to stand, dizziness would force me back to the pavement.
As I sat pondering the
events of my then sixty day long bicycle tour, I lamented that it was coming to
an end, right there on highway 62 in western Indiana. No more women would meet
The Bicycle Lady and no more women would be set free from the torment of their
past.
But God had different plans.
Today my knee is healed and as I write this, I’m rebuilding the strength. I’m
back on the bike, riding and am planning my next departure. People ask why I
would plan to head back out on the bike when I suffered such a painful injury.
The answer is very simple.
My heart tells me to go.
You, too, must follow your
heart. Follow it to wherever it leads. Is it telling you to write a story?
Great! Then sit your butt in the chair and pound out the keys. Is your heart
leading you to open a coffee shop? Better start ordering mugs.
You will never be satisfied
or fulfilled in life unless or until you follow your heart. Hundreds of people
have told me they could never ride their bicycle cross country. I know that.
It’s not in their heart. It’s in mine. They were not meant to.
We all have something in our
own heart that compels us to get up each day and embrace life. It’s individual.
Unique to us. No one else will fully understand how it drives us.
Today, while it is still
today, I urge you to follow your heart, wherever it leads you. If you do,
you’ll make your mark in the world. You’ll live life to its fullest and will be
energized with purpose.
Your gifts will make room
for you when you follow your heart. So what are you waiting for? Live your
dream!
Are you following your heart? If you did, where would
it lead you? Share it here!
Reba J. Hoffman is the founder and president of Magellan Life Coaching (www.magellanlifecoaching.com). She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is a natural encourager. She serves as Member Care Coach for My Book Therapy and is the author of Dare to Dream, A Writer’s Journal. You can connect with Reba through her motivational blog, Finding True North, or by email at reba@magellanlifecoaching.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MagellanCoach.
I'm thankful you're on the road to recovery, Reba! I have to admit that sometimes my heart leads me astray. I pray daily for discernment as I know God (who often gives me the desires of my heart) is the only One who can help me tell the difference between the heart and Truth.
ReplyDeleteI love your point about others not having the desire to ride their bike because that's not what God placed on their hearts to do. We all have different gifts and a different life plan.
This is an exciting journey when God takes the lead! Thanks so much for sharing. :)
Thanks for your comment, Cathy. Isn't it wonderful that God is our guide and leads us into the path of truth so we don't get sidetracked with things we should not be pursuing? Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteThis gladdens my heart to hear you're following yours, Reba. I'm following mine, too, and at long last, God has opened a door. You should see me rushing through! LOL
ReplyDeleteYay, Ane! So glad to hear! Keep it up!
DeletePray your knee gets better. If you went to Indianapolis from where you were on highway 62 you were less than ten miles from my house. At least my prayers don't have far to go. LOL Hope it all heals up and you can get on with your adventure...Good Luck and God Bless.
ReplyDeleteI'm gearing up right now for departure. Most likely Monday or Tuesday!
DeleteSo glad you are recovering...can't wait to see where God directs you next. As for me, I'm following my heart with my stories!
ReplyDeleteIndeed you are, author Patricia Bradley!
DeleteSo sorry you had to endure a painful injury but you didn't let it defeat you. Thanks for encouraging us to do the same.
ReplyDeleteOh Reba, I'm sorry your trip was cut short. Think of Diana Nyad. She tried for so many years to swim from Cuba to the U.S. She finally accomplished her goal.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a song in The Sound of Music, "Climb Every Mountain." I haven't thought about that song in years, but the message is the same. Follow every rainbow until you find your dream.
What an encouraging post, Reba. I keep trying to ignore my heart because of fear, but women like you keep me taking baby steps. Thank you for riding!
ReplyDelete