Uncomfortable Bike Seats

There are two kinds of bikes in the world. The kind that hurts your bum and the other kind. On Saturday, Mrs. Bluth and I decided to go on a bike ride and both of our bikes were of the former type. It's true that you don't forget how to ride a bike. But you do forget how uncomfortable they are. When you are a child you barely notice the uncomfortable seats.

Neither of us has have had much use for bikes in our lives. I rode around the neighborhood on an assortment of second-hand bikes while growing up (thanks Dad for putting in a lot of time keeping those things running -- none of them were ever very nice , but you managed to always keep them working). Anyways, it felt good to go on a ride and thankfully it is still beautiful weather in Chicago. One important thing about bike-riding in a busy city -- you have got to be pretty cautious.

There are a lot of big buses, cars, other riders, and pedestrians. Stay alert, or be killed (or kill someone on accident). Actually it wasn't that bad, but it is important to be cautious.

 I speak of caution because it reminds me a little bit about doubt. Both involve you checking and double checking your surroundings and standing. Doubt ensures that whatever decisions you do make, it will be a well thought-out and calculated decision. Doubt drives desire for more knowledge. The Restoration of the church through Joseph Smith came because he doubted some of the things that he had been taught. Doubt drove him to desire clarification.
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We've had a couple of very great discourses on doubt recently. President Holland and President Uchtdorf have both given terrific talks on this indelible topic.

Both emphasized affirming what you do know. Everyone has at least a couple of principles that resound with them. Grab onto those little foundations that secure you in place. Then you can use doubt to explore all of the other doctrines and principles that don't make sense to you. Nurture the seed. The doubt drives discovery.

Caution on the road, like doubt, keeps you alert and aware. The discomfort of doubt actually stabilizes you by ensuring that you truly understand and endorse what is being taught. It forces you to actively pursue more knowledge. Too much comfort leads to too much complacency.