When is Jesus like a bicycle?

I have seen the new Alice in Wonderland movie and read the book, and one of my favorite nonsensical lines/riddles was when the hatter asks "when is a raven like a writing desk?" I don't really have an answer, but that riddle has always floated around in my head for some strange reason. But on to other things only slightly related. Have you ever noticed those “see bicycles” bumper stickers on people’s cars? I know I have, and as someone who rides their bike to work now that the weather is nice I really appreciate them. They help call attention to the fact that cars aren’t the only vehicles who are supposed to be using our nations road system. Bicycles can slip into a drivers blind spot, even when they are close attention. When a driver is not paying close attention they are almost impossible to see. We get into a hurry for a variety of reasons and before we know it we are slamming on our brakes and muttering things under our breath because we almost hit someone on a bicycle. Thus there are a growing number of cyclists (and others) who put bumper stickers on their vehicles to remind the world to “see bicycles.” As I sat in traffic behind just a person the other day, I couldn’t help but contemplate the similarities between Jesus and bicyclists/bicycles. The biggest similarity was pointed out to me by the bumper sticker. The sticker says “see bicycles,” I say “see Jesus.” I don’t say to be cheesy, but to be realistic. In the same way that many drivers overlook bicycles because they are in a hurry or the cyclist blends in with the background, we miss seeing Jesus, especially in other people. We get in a hurry or we are too focused on doing our own thing that we forget to see Jesus in our brothers and sisters that we see and meet every day on the street. Seeing Jesus doesn’t mean that we just take it for granted that Jesus is there in everyone we meet, it means that we also recognize him and treat him appropriately. What about recognizing him in the people we don’t meet, but that our actions have an effect on. When we see a piece of garbage sitting on the ground or a stack of clothes in the dressing room at a department store, do we ever stop to help pick it up? It is the small acts of kindness done with great love that can truly make the difference in the world around us. We don’t need to go on a mission trip to Africa or south America to help the poor. We can do it right here. We can start by helping the spiritually poor who feel like they have nothing to live for. We can start by showing that we are not afraid to engage the world not just with our words, but with our actions. With simply loving our neighbor. By seeing Christ in all his children. As the school year winds down over here on the western half of the country and we progress on into summer vacation, I would challenge us all to consider also how we choose to dress when we go up for a weekend on the lake or hang out down on the river. Modesty means not only recognizing Christ in others, but also in ourselves.