It’s Valentine’s month, so I hope you don’t mind if I start this devotional with the chorus of one of my favorite old-fashioned love songs, “Daisy Bell,” written in 1892 by the British songwriter Harry Dacre:
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do!
I’m half crazy, all for the love of you!
It won’t be a stylish marriage;
I can’t afford a carriage.
But you’ll look sweet upon the seat
of a bicycle built for two!
Not surprisingly, the tandem bicycle has often been used in art and literature as a symbol of a happy romance. And why not? After all, there are plenty of real-life examples to support that image, such as Graeme and Betty Cox of England who’ve been riding a tandem bicycle together since shortly after they met in 1948 and who attribute much of their marital success to this shared passion. (Check out their inspiring love story on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Bfrwe9l7FYo?feature=shared)
But, as many experienced riders will also warn you, tandem cycling can just as easily break a relationship as make it. That’s because for tandem riding to be successful, the “pilot” (front rider) and “stoker” (back rider) have to communicate effectively and coordinate their efforts when it comes to things like body position, pedal pressure, and starting/stopping. Without such teamwork, an otherwise pleasant ride can quickly turn into something far less enjoyable!
Well, if there had been tandem bicycles around in the time of the prophet Amos, he might very well have used that image in his prophecy against the nation of Israel, because in Amos 3:3 he asks on behalf of God, “Can two walk together unless they are agreed (i.e., as to time/place/purpose)?” It was God’s way of saying, “I love you, but unless we can get on the same page, this relationship isn’t going to work!”
During this Valentine’s month, I invite you to hear Amos 3:3 as a reminder of two important truths. First, we are loved by God far more than we can even imagine. And if we need proof of that, we need only to look at Jesus—God in the flesh—who gave his very life for us. Second, when it comes to “getting on the same page” with God, it has far more to do with us listening to God than the other way around, at least as I see it.
So, if you really want to express your love to God, whether this month or any time, why not start with this prayer:
Thank you, God, for your amazing love for us, and for listening to us, even when we don’t always listen so well to you. I want to be on the same page with you, so please help me to open my ears, my mind, and my very heart to you. I ask this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen
Dave Marty is a retired pastor who lives with his wife, Mary, in Brownsburg, Indiana. They have two beautiful daughters, two great sons-in-law, and two creative teenage grandchildren. In addition to cycling (including unicycling), Dave also enjoys gardening, Scrabble, hosting Holy Land tours with Mary, and tutoring kindergarteners at a nearby school