Bike Ride Through Serenity

I've lived in Indiana for the whole (almost) 14 years of my life. As I rode through the neighborhood on a bike, with my sister, I reminisced. I remember every tree and house, every sidewalk and rode. It was a bit humid outside but I rode the bike fast and furious. The wind kissed my cheeks and ruffled through the leaves of a tree. I smell the smell of spring and summer, the smell of nature, and the smell of...home. As we entered the quaint neighborhood park, we headed towards the swings. I love swings. When you're on them, you feel as if you were a bird. Able to fly through the air. I remembered a scene from a couple winters ago. In the winter, around Christmas time, we had a party there. Everyone was huddled together like a group of penguins, all clutching their hot chocolates desperately. We were all waiting for the winner to be drawn so that he or she could turn the Christmas lights on. All these memories passed through my mind as I took that simple bike ride I've made hundreds of times.

A Book: Shiokari's Pass by Ayako Miura

I recently finished this life changing story about Christianity in Japan my father gave me to read. The story starts out with a young boy named Nobua Nagano. He is living with his Buddhist grandmother and father. When his grandmother dies, his thought to be dead mother comes back to live with him. His mother is actually a Christian. In Japan at that time, it was embarrassing to be related to be a Christian. Suddenly his father dies which causes him to think more about life. He discovers a strong relationship with God and finds a beautiful woman he must wait for to marry. A heart-breaking twist at the end of the story brought me to tears. This book made me think even more deeply about my faith and my life.