It was meant to be a time of quiet reflection. I was standing alone at the edge of a large field. Straddling my bicycle contemplatively, I savoured the delicious beauty of the setting sun. I thanked God that no matter where I had lived, He had always found me such places.
Places where I could see the sunset, alone.
There was no wind. The clouds hang low. Above them was a vast, clear expanse. Bathed in the dying embers the clouds bore the moment with elegant grace. They sailed aloft ever so gently. Shimmering in amber, orange and a touch of grey, they looked like they could fall.
Of course, they were not going to fall. Some unseen power seemed to be holding them in place. Was it God or physics? Surely it had to be God. How could such art be the work of blind nature? So beautiful. God had to be an artist!Places where I could see the sunset, alone.
There was no wind. The clouds hang low. Above them was a vast, clear expanse. Bathed in the dying embers the clouds bore the moment with elegant grace. They sailed aloft ever so gently. Shimmering in amber, orange and a touch of grey, they looked like they could fall.
7.10 p.m.
The emerging stars eased me out of my reverie. Wife had said not to ride in the dark. I was in familiar territory so I was confident that I could find my way home. However, finding the right tracks proved a lot trickier. After getting lost a few times I found myself in familiar neighbourhoods.
7.30 p.m.
I am almost home. I feel energised and the only thing keeping me from going full throttle are some words I had read in a novel earlier in the day. It was about a man who got into a fight and lost some teeth. I have one dead tooth at the front. The dentists said so. I know how it got killed - my fighting days in Kimathi. I no longer fight, well, except that one time in the market. I didn't lose another tooth then but I still feel a little guilty about it.
I have two other teeth that I have lost. This time to sugar. I was young and foolish and in high school. I think the dentist was foolish too. He should have advised me to get a filling instead.
I don't do sugar anymore. I am in my 40s. Sugar is anathema, except when I am taking coffee. I am wary of coffee without sugar. I think it's for people older than I am.
But now I don't want to fall. So I go a little slower than I'd really have liked. I don't want to lose another tooth.
7.50 p.m.
My tracker chimes the time and announces that I have done only 4.5kms. It sounds like an indictment. Wife had said that I have grown unfit. That it was about time I went cycling. I had planned to clean the chicken house and walk the dogs. Tandi, the feisty female needed some exercise. Or so it seemed to me. Wife would have none of it so after a little back and forth I got on the bicycle.
8 p.m.
How could I go back with only 5km under my belt? I turn away from the path to our house and head towards the water reservoir. I know the path well and the night is brighter than I had anticipated. The moon casts a soft glow over the sandy tracks. I increase my speed.
8.15 p.m.
It feels good. As I speed past the reservoir, I imagine myself a blur, like a super-hero. Like Flash. There is wind now. I have created the wind. Moving fast like I do creates wind.
"Hey you!" wife's voice pulls me out of my solo race. She was queuing at the reservoir. How had she seen me? I thought I was a blur!
8.20 p.m.
We agree that I do a few more rounds instead of waiting with her. Thereafter she can follow me in the car on our way home. My tracker chimes 5.5km I ride downhill a km and back again. As I approach the reservoir I see her backing out. I turn around and ask her to illuminate the paths with the headlights. I go full throttle. I want to show her that I am fit indeed, fit as a fiddle.
8.30 p.m.
I am at top speed. The paths are rougher now but who cares? I am confident now. I won't lose another tooth. Wife must be praying seeing my speed. That should cover me.
The headlights are approaching. I try to go faster but I am at the limit. I am determined to keep ahead so I focus. I must not be seen to be unfit.
8.40 p.m.
The tracker chimes again. 7km.
The car is almost upon me. My legs are aching, my chest is burning. There doesn't seem to be enough oxygen in the world for me. I can't go faster. The bike won't go faster. Body and bicycle conspire against me. I can now here the vehicle's engine. The car is right behind me. I reluctantly give way and move to the side. Hadn't we agreed that she would follow me, to illuminate the paths?
Panting with frustration I turn around. A bodaboda (motorbike taxi) nonchalantly goes past me. The car is far behind. The headlights I was racing against were not wife's car but the bodaboda.
9.00 p.m.
Home.
I open my bible to read for the kids. The story of King David will be our highlight today. It opens to 1 Corinthians 9. Like a feather falling gently in the wind, my eyes come to rest on verse 26.
Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
I'm stung. I had run aimlessly and fought... like one savaging the wind.
But now I don't want to fall. So I go a little slower than I'd really have liked. I don't want to lose another tooth.
7.50 p.m.
My tracker chimes the time and announces that I have done only 4.5kms. It sounds like an indictment. Wife had said that I have grown unfit. That it was about time I went cycling. I had planned to clean the chicken house and walk the dogs. Tandi, the feisty female needed some exercise. Or so it seemed to me. Wife would have none of it so after a little back and forth I got on the bicycle.
8 p.m.
How could I go back with only 5km under my belt? I turn away from the path to our house and head towards the water reservoir. I know the path well and the night is brighter than I had anticipated. The moon casts a soft glow over the sandy tracks. I increase my speed.
8.15 p.m.
It feels good. As I speed past the reservoir, I imagine myself a blur, like a super-hero. Like Flash. There is wind now. I have created the wind. Moving fast like I do creates wind.
"Hey you!" wife's voice pulls me out of my solo race. She was queuing at the reservoir. How had she seen me? I thought I was a blur!
8.20 p.m.
We agree that I do a few more rounds instead of waiting with her. Thereafter she can follow me in the car on our way home. My tracker chimes 5.5km I ride downhill a km and back again. As I approach the reservoir I see her backing out. I turn around and ask her to illuminate the paths with the headlights. I go full throttle. I want to show her that I am fit indeed, fit as a fiddle.
8.30 p.m.
I am at top speed. The paths are rougher now but who cares? I am confident now. I won't lose another tooth. Wife must be praying seeing my speed. That should cover me.
The headlights are approaching. I try to go faster but I am at the limit. I am determined to keep ahead so I focus. I must not be seen to be unfit.
8.40 p.m.
The tracker chimes again. 7km.
The car is almost upon me. My legs are aching, my chest is burning. There doesn't seem to be enough oxygen in the world for me. I can't go faster. The bike won't go faster. Body and bicycle conspire against me. I can now here the vehicle's engine. The car is right behind me. I reluctantly give way and move to the side. Hadn't we agreed that she would follow me, to illuminate the paths?
Panting with frustration I turn around. A bodaboda (motorbike taxi) nonchalantly goes past me. The car is far behind. The headlights I was racing against were not wife's car but the bodaboda.
9.00 p.m.
Home.
I open my bible to read for the kids. The story of King David will be our highlight today. It opens to 1 Corinthians 9. Like a feather falling gently in the wind, my eyes come to rest on verse 26.
Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
I'm stung. I had run aimlessly and fought... like one savaging the wind.
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