Pedaling the safari cycle through the zoo, with the unmistakable aroma of animals filling the air, I found myself pondering one critical question: “Shyann, what are you doing here?” Somehow, my sweet-talking daughter had roped me into chaperoning her school field trip. And somehow—against all better judgment—I said yes. Little did I know, the true adventure wasn’t in the exotic wildlife but in surviving the day with a safari cycle full of ten-year-olds.

The class teacher, in his infinite wisdom, had suggested that all the chaperones rent these multi-seat monstrosities because they’d supposedly help us navigate the zoo faster as a group. Sure, the idea made sense on paper. What he failed to consider were two crucial things:

      1.    I wasn’t exactly eager to star in a Tour de Zoo workout in the blazing heat.

      2.    Convincing four or five preteens to pedal in unison was about as easy as herding cats on caffeine.

But there I was, ready for the challenge. I pepped myself up and prepared to bribe—I mean, motivate—the girls into pedaling their hearts out. And for a while, it worked like a charm. I was the ultimate cheerleader, rallying our squad with shouts of encouragement as we sped past the meerkats and flamingos.

Then, the bike started slowing down. And I mean really slowing down. My legs were burning, and it felt like I was the only one doing the work. Suspicious, I glanced behind me and discovered the truth: two of my team members had decided it would be hilarious to pedal backward. 🤦🏽‍♀️

Cue my Aha! moment. Amos 3:3 suddenly came to life: “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” Or in this case: Can five people pedal together unless they agree? Spoiler alert: They cannot.

I slammed on the brakes, hopped off, and made my decree: “We are not going anywhere until we all agree to pedal together—forward, not backward!” Something magical happened after a brief huddle (and maybe a stern mom-glare or two). The girls started pedaling like pros, and we went from dead last to zooming past everyone, laughing all the way.

The Lesson from the Zoo Cycle

Unity isn’t just a nice concept—it’s essential. Whether at work, at home, at church, or pedaling through the zoo, moving together in agreement makes the journey lighter, faster, and way more enjoyable. Trying to push forward while others are pulling back? That’s a recipe for frustration and exhaustion.

A wise friend once told me: “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.” And the truth is, we’re designed to do life in harmony—not as solo cyclists but as a team.

So, here’s my challenge for us today:

•      At home: Get in sync with your family. Work together to build an environment of peace and purpose.
•      At work: Stop fighting the flow and start collaborating with your team. Find ways to pull in the same direction.
•      At church: Seek understanding and alignment with your leaders. Unity in ministry makes the mission unstoppable.

Ask God to reveal where you must adjust, who you must align with, and how to foster harmony in your relationships. Because in life, as on a zoo safari bike, the ride is so much sweeter when we all pedal together.

Pedal on, friends.