I love to ride my bike, but I hate riding my bike trainer. I throughly enjoy golf, but I generally don’t like the driving range all that much. I like to do things, you see, but I really don’t like to train for them.

I was thinking just a bit ago about how difficult it is to be without my children. I am a dad. One of my greatest callings in life is to care for and meet the needs of my children on a daily basis. But I am prevented from doing so. What it feels like is, on most weekends, I am a dad. And during the week and on others weekends, I am not. I don’t know how to “turn off” being a dad, and therefore, when my children are not present, I feel like a major portion of my life is simply missing. But perhaps I need to look at it another way.

When I am riding my bike, I am a bicyclist. I can go places and see things. I can feel the wind on my face and hear the sounds of nature. When I am on my bike trainer, I am sitting still. All I can hear are the unpleasant sounds that the trainer makes. It is not very enjoyable. But it does not make me any less of a bicyclist, regardless of how it feels. It is a opportunity to be a better bicyclist.

During the times that I do not have my children, I often simply do not know what to do with my time. I feel like I’m staring at my bike wanting to go for a ride, but it’s snowing outside. When what I should be thinking is this: now is the time to train.

No, I would never wish that I spend more than the rare few days apart from my children. But the fact of the matter is that, unless God works a miracle, I will not see them as often as I desire. And so, while I do not have them, I need to focus on becoming a better dad. I need to immerse myself in the Word, focus on getting proper sleep, learn more parenting skills, and spend time in prayer. Yes, these are things that will improve me as a man. But they will equally improve me as a dad.

I miss my son and daughter more than I can express in words. But I am not going to sit idly by as I wait to see them again. No, I do not enjoy getting on my bike trainer nearly as much as I do actually riding, but I must do it. My desire is - and has always been - to be the best dad that I can be for my children. And that means that I must learn to train. And train I will, so help me God.

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