Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure

The weather this week has been … rather less perfect than we might have liked to have ridden through. I'm riding down the Natchez Trace Parkway with the Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure this week.

I rode on this same trip last year, and aside from one day of rain (which was almost pleasant to ride through, since it was relatively warm), we had beautiful weather. This year, however, only the first day was beautiful ... or even pleasant, really. We've been a little challenged since then by rain, cold, and cold rain.

But it's still been an amazing trip. The people who choose to embark on this kind of experience are, almost by definition, interesting people. And because the Fuller Center is such a phenomenal organization, the people are interesting and compassionate, willing to raise funds and give time and energy to helping other people.

From a purely personal perspective, though, the thing I've most enjoyed about this trip has been spending time with my family. Last year I rode this adventure with my dad, and it's really great to spend the week with him again this year. Plus, it's cool to see how much the other people on this trip enjoy my dad.

But more than that, this year my daughter came along on the adventure. We got to spend a lot of time this week riding bicycles together, which we both really enjoy. I got to ride with her on a day when she rode 100 kilometers, which was twice as long as her previous longest ride. I got to ride with her when we were sitting in a paceline going about 20 mph down the highway. It's fun to go fast.

In addition to the simple riding down the road on two wheels, it gave me joy to do a couple other things with my amazing daughter. She was interested in learning to shoot a basketball. So with our extra time one evening, we spent a while shooting hoops (which provoked a little nostalgia in some of the other riders as they remembered their dad teaching them to play basketball).

I also loved teaching her, on the day we helped repair someone's home, to use a handsaw and a hammer & chisel to cut and shape a board for the deck of the house.

But more than those things I've enjoyed being around Harper on this trip, because I get to see her as she is around other people (not just the way she is around her family). It's fun to watch her enjoy other people, and to watch other people really enjoy being around her. And I have to say, she's pretty great.

We may end up doing this ride together again next year … that'd be fun.

Rain, Rain, Rain

Day Two on the Natchez Trace Parkway with the Fuller Center for Housing Spring Bicycle Adventure today, and we encountered almost every single type of rain possible through the course of the day. 

Before we left one of the most mission-minded and hospitable congregations in the world, it just started to sprinkle a little bit.  Intermittent light showers gave way to stronger rain which soaked us from above as it fell, from in front as we rode, and from below as our tires kicked water up into our faces and skunk-striped our backs.

There were a few moments that it didn't actively rain on us, times when millions of tiny drops clouded our vision almost like fog, times when huge drops pelted our faces and shoulders ... and a couple of us even though there was a moment or two of hail.

The rain, and the somewhat-cold that came with it, didn't dampen our mood too much, but we were all relieved to get to the warmth of the Collinwood United Methodist Church.

We're having a fantastic adventure so far, and it's a tremendous joy for me to be with my dad and my daughter.  I think maybe I'll write more on the experience of being with family in the next couple of days.

$0.02

Lenten Midweek Reflection on Psalm 32

selfishness

greed

envy

deceit

cowardice

I am curved in on myself

and lack the concern for others I should have

I am selfish,

wanting for me before, and more than, for others

I am afraid

wishing that I can do enough to earn the favor of the divine

I know these things about me

(and I expect they're true of you ?)

I know these things about me

yet seem to not be able to move beyond

selfishness, greed, envy, deceit, cowardice …

are they

character flaws?

focus areas to improve on?

topics for self-improvement?

or plain old, regular and ordinary,

sin?

the latter, I expect ...

sin, to which

I am in bondage, and cannot free myself

Yet, happy are we

(not that we revel in sin)

happy are we

that our sin is put away

happy are we

that we have the opportunity to return to the Lord our God

happy are we

for God does not seek us out to condemn the world

but in order that the world will be saved

happy are they, we,

whose transgressions are forgiven

rejoice in the Lord

shout for joy

let our prayers of thanksgiving rise like incense

and may our prayers remind us, as well

that even when we are not happy, we are beloved by God.

Lent Midweek Reflection on Psalm 63

Ever been thirsty?

ever been hungry?

the kind of thirsty where it's hard to breathe

it takes 45 seconds just to moisten your tongue

you can't imagine another moment without water

and taking a drink preoccupies your thoughts completely

ever been thirsty?

ever been hungry?

the kind of hungry where your stomach has stopped rumbling

a handful of raisins would fill you up

and simply standing up makes you lightheaded

ever been hungry?

in that way, my flesh faints for you, O God

my soul thirsts

as my throat in a desert

the world around me says

get yourself a drink

make yourself some food

but why do I spend my time on that which does not fill me

my energy on what does not satisfy?

so I turn, again and again

to you, the author and giver of all life

because though I try,

I can do nothing without you

though my culture's praise of independence

propels me from your presence

still my soul thirsts for you

to drink deeply from your love, from your grace

and though I try to stray,

still you seek me out, bring me back

welcome me into the arms of your mercy

Ever been hungry?

ever been thirsty?

my soul hungers and thirsts for you, O God

lead me beside still waters

restore me with living water

the bread of life, the cup of salvation.

Lenten Midweek Reflection on Psalm 27

My home, when the blizzard drops snow incessantly

falling vertically onto my roof

and falling horizontally into my walls

and rattling the windows

my home is safe and secure

and I sip warm tea

huddled underneath a quilt

but when I go out,

the pellets of snow assail and devour my face

even as my feet struggle to find purchase

so they can do their job of remaining underneath me

and the shelter of my car is temporary

and tenuous

as I have to navigate slippery streets

and avoid other drivers

I may or may not be protected

by the divine

from the weather and dangers of the road

still, when I return to my home

it is as if I am resting in the shelter

of the God of the universe

my tea and my quilt, they comfort me

but do not give me up, O God

to the will of my adversaries

or especially to the will of your adversaries

I know that my home brings me comfort

and protection from the sting of the snow

from the bitter of the cold

yet so many of your children

do not have shelter

I know the food in my pantry

will fill my belly and warm my body

yet so many of your children

are hungry

I know I am protected by your strength

and need not fear your enemies

yet so many of your children are not safe

are not secure

I believe I will see the goodness of the Lord

here, in the land of the living

and I believe that, once I recognize the goodness of the Lord

I believe that sharing the goodness of the Lord

will probably begin with me

and with you.