Ever had a bucket list? Amongst other things I always wanted to try a segway. I guess it all started with an episode of Frasier, where Niles and the others have a lot of fun chasing each other and jumping on and off one. How hard can it be?

For me, the truth is very hard indeed. I went to the hire shop, where they promised me full training! A lovely patient man, I will call Simon, to protect the innocent, got me kitted out. The first problem was getting on. If you put your feet on with one swift movement, you were fine. If you hesitated, even for a second, the segway escaped, which was more than a little disconcerting. I had to practice jumping on it near a wall.

I got my practice session in the middle of a busy street. There were a number of people who stopped to watch, grinning widely at my antics, from a very safe distance. Going forward, you have to press with your toes. To stop, you press with your heels ( but if you press too much with your heels, then you go backwards!!!). I was terrified I would mow someone down, and my shrieks were heard half way down Michegan Avenue. My lovely instructor was very reassuring ‘many people start like this’ ‘ once you get in an open space you can go faster’ ‘ You’ll get the hang of it’. ‘ There are lots of hills so you need to gave good control’. He tried to catch me everytime I failed to turn round in time, or overbalanced.

After a while, he looked at me as I clung to the handle bars with a vice like hold, as I careered in the wrong direction yet again, and  said the wonderfully welcome and gentle words  ‘I think from a health and safety viewpoint, maybe this isn’t for you’. I tried to pause for more than a nanosecond before agreeing. If you put it like that, I would have to agree. Seldom have I been more relieved!

To try to regain a modicum of dignity, I decided to hire a bike instead. In comparison, this was a piece of cake, and I cycled along the lakeside for an hour.

I am a little sad that segwaying is not to be. I had a valiant try, and am pleased that I did have the courage to try a new thing. This particular new thing was not for me! Choosing not to pursue it was wisdom, for the health and wellbeing of the Chicago community, and to prevent me coming home with a stookie!

Gracious God, You often call us into new territory, to try different things. It can be hard, even with the most patient instruction. Thankyou for the ability to laugh at ourselves, and that you give us the wisdom to reconsider our path when the time is right. Lord Jesus, thankyou for Your patience with us. Holy Spirit give us discernment, even in the little choices in life, what to pursue, and when to let go. In Your precious name, Amen.