Biking in the Grand Canyon with guardian angels

We hit the road for a trip to the Grand Canyon in the first two weeks of June. Traveling 3,500 miles in a van is an experience I have never had. Once I digest all the “sanctification” that occurred I will write a different column about that. What I want to shout out in glory is how thankful I am to the Lord for giving me holy friends and “my angel.”

The climax of our adventure was to be a 7-mile bike ride on the south rim of the Grand Canyon.  I was anxious about this for months for two reasons. The first was that possibly my incredibly unfit self would not be able to keep up and I would also be so sore the next few days that the rest of the trip would be a struggle. To make this idea more anxious for me I have a memory as a child where my Mom couldn’t climb Mesa Verde and the look on her face broke my heart. I didn’t want my kids to see that look and I didn’t want to miss this experience.

The dark one poured a heavy amount of lies on me and I began to believe it. Blessed with very holy friends, I knew I needed to reach out for help. I know I don’t have an illness, or some type of terrible circumstance so why would I reach out to them for such a privileged problem? Ellen, you are scared you won’t be able to ride a bike on vacation. Why would you ask your friends to pray for that? I heard that lie too. 

Somewhere on a dry road in New Mexico a couple days before the event the Lord poked me and I asked them to cover me in prayer and they did. They offered their day’s annoyances and called upon Our Blessed Mother on my behalf.

The next morning I woke up with the spirit of whatever will happen will be ok. I didn’t feel like an Ironman but I didn’t feel nervous either. Their prayers were answered and lighting a candle in every church I could find in Santa Fe helped too.

The second reason for pause and caution was that my second child had only learned to ride a bike around Christmas time. This child is very coordinated, rhythmically gifted, and is not fearful. She plainly had no interest in a bicycle nor in being taught by someone. She likes to do things on her own and at her own pace. Once she was told that she would have to stay back on our expedition if she didn’t learn to ride. She mounted her shiny yet dusty bike and in a short while, all I saw was her hair blowing back. I said all that, but the fact remained she JUST learned to ride.

We get to the bike tour place, and I see the bikes we would be using. All are bigger than the ones ours at home, 10 speed and had only hand brakes. None of my children have experience with this type of transportation. We go for a test run and #2 can barely balance. She nearly fell off and only slightly missed running over an elderly woman. This engaged her alarm and her strong will. She denied her panic and rejected all coaching. I stopped, took deep breaths, and prayed. My husband urged her on another test run and he came back with shoulders shrugged.

We decided to set off anyway. We traveled 10 minutes of the trail through forests to get to the rim and suddenly I saw the route. It was a 6-foot-wide pavement with no shoulder, no rails and pedestrians walking on the side of the road opposite the drop-off. It was truly a “rim” and we had to share it. There were inclines and long downhills with sharp turns. It was A LOT to manipulate.

The kids were shouting back asking me which gears for which thing and I kind of left reality for a second. “Lord, how is this going to work out?” I had been covered by prayer and felt no worries for myself but this was a different perspective. I didn’t know the pathway would be like it was. I didn’t want to burden my dude with worry as he was pulling the baby in a cart, and he needed all the focus he could summon. At that moment I asked “my angel” to stick with #2.

The tour guide then yells, “RIIIIIIIGHT” which we learned meant a fast downhill, hairpin, and all I saw was that dark chocolate hair blowing back like it did at home but instead of my flat neighborhood sidewalk in front, there was the edge of the greatest natural masterpiece the Lord gave the USA with no protective measures in place.

I hear her shift up, I see her squeeze her brakes a bit early to test them, she wobbles around a kid walking and then makes the curve. I felt, suddenly, in my heart, my angel in that corner with arms open wide. My angel was truly in guard mode. I usually send it to comfort people and pray for people but this time I allowed for my angel to be a true guardian and the trip took a turn towards enjoyment. I think my angel was pumped for the assignment. My #2 felt the shield too because her mood changed. After that curve, we soaked in the moment instead of obsessing about the worst things that could happen. There were many more turns and even a fall, but it was away from the edge and three minutes from the end.

We were able to experience the most breathtaking views that were quiet, away from crowds, and where no one could deny who created this wonder. We laughed and celebrated the wind on every downhill slope. We all screamed with glee at some point, even Dad and the baby. I was not sore nor did I feel like I couldn't keep up. Where there was doubt the Lord gave hope, where there was distress we were graced with peace. Through prayer from my friends and the gift of angels, our climax was heightened with joy and gratitude. I even bought a T-shirt from the bike shop y’all.

The cherry on top was when we were home and all settled back in. I sent #2 to go get her brother down the road at a friend’s house. She could barely pedal and fell over by the stop sign. She said it was because of her new basket. I laughed out loud. She still hasn’t mastered riding a bike but she rode that rim like the Tour de France because our Lord is so good.

Please always ask for prayers no matter the intensity of the requests and don’t forget about the treasure that is your angel.

Eldridge is a Catholic mom living in the Diocese of Baton Rouge facing the same challenges all families face.