Today I cycled to work. It was the first time in a long time that I had done so.
I wondered if it wasn’t too much to do, what with the rush hour traffic and a route that had now become unfamiliar to me. However, I talked myself out of these concerns. I was setting out around 10am, and so the rush hour was well behind me. And, as for the unfamiliar route, well, it would just have to become familiar once again.
It was a challenging ride. I had never before noticed the steep gradients. I was about to call them ‘hills’, but this is the Netherlands, and I fear derisory laughter from hardened bikers. And so, gradients. I rode most of the way in the lowest gears, and stopped a few times to catch my breath.
But I am glad I cycled, anyway. It was a great chance to be together with the world. Riding a bicycle gives one more contact with the world than, say, sitting on a public transport bus or tram. Taxis are even more isolating. With bikes, you have your eyes open, you may daydream a bit, but you cannot afford to do so for long.
It can also be energizing – physically, as well as spiritually. I tend to ride with music – hymns, generally. Today I had with me The World of Psalms, a collection of uplifting psalms sung by the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. I could listen to this album over and over, and still want more. Cycling through the busy back-end of Amsterdam Centraal Station, – cars, buses, bikes everywhere – there were moments when I could hardly hear the lyrics. But the solemn solidity of the tones, the earnestness of the prayer, and the final refrain per psalm (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son …), these blessings marked my trip all the way there. I sang where I could, hummed where I couldn’t, and rode with Amsterdam in the morning sun.
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