Well, today it finally happened...I got overdosed on the sun, heat and humidity of Alabama. Yep...I hit the wall about 20 miles from Iuka Mississippi. I was totally disoriented and it hit me so fast that I had little time to react. The riding from Haleyville Alabama had been uneventful and we were biking pretty fast most of the day. We stopped for a great home made Mexican lunch about 42 miles into a 72 mile day. After lunch I had a very narrow shoulder to ride on and the traffic was unnerving me really bad. A semi truck got really close and I veered off the shoulder and immediately flatted my front tire. I realized I had no tube and had to wait on two of my teammates to bail me out of the mess I was in. As I was the reigning king of flat tires on the 2008 RideWell Bike tour the flat was changed expeditiously and I was soon on my way. I knew that I was in trouble very shortly because two things happened...One...I stopped sweating. Anytime you stop sweating in Alabama 90 degree + heat that is a bad deal...I had been drinking lots of liquid but I was also losing lots of liquid. Actually, I think I woke up a bit dry from yesterday which was much of the same as far as heat & humidity go. So, perhaps I just didn't catch up today...Secondly...I became very disoriented and that happened quick. I stopped on the side of the road because I couldn't remember how to shift my bike. Two of my team mates rode up and I acted like I was looking at my map. That was funny as there was no need to consult the map for many miles. Apparently I convinced them I was OK and we rode off. I took off riding like a bat out of you-know-where and was frantically searching for the support vehicle. I was told that it was at a funeral home...how appropriate as I was about to die...right here...on a bike. I found the support vehicle and honestly...I don't remember how I got off my bike. I found myself lying in the shade of a huge cedar tree...glassy eyed and still talking crazy. My wife was asking the simplest questions and I could not respond appropriately. I kept telling her how fantastic the Spanish moss was in this cedar tree...which of course there was none. I saw out of the corner of my eye, my bike being loaded into the trailer. I pleaded with her and another leader to let me finish out the last 15 miles. My wife gave me the look and I knew the final word was no...you are done for the day. Everything after that was a blur...it all ran together. I remember I ate some food and went to bed and slept very hard. I drank a bunch of liquid before bed and felt much better the next morning. Even as I write this, I am still amazed how quick that hit me. So, take a lesson from me and really hydrate on these miserable hot and humid days...or dog days...as they call them. I have finally recovered and am functioning fine and can remember how to shift my bike...thankful for that as I still have about 1400 more miles to go...and it's just getting' hotter n hotter every day...
Pretty sweet tid-pit:
On the way down here I have had a BUNCH of time just to think about things: my life, my calling, the future, plans, friends, and family. And no matter what I think about it always comes back to, rather leads to, a life of giving. I’m not afraid of this, I’m actually really excited about it! In fact, God has continued to put my heart on missions and every time it runs through my head, my heart starts racing with excitement and fulfillment although I haven’t even started. Maybe the missions will be in the U.S., maybe in South America, I don’t entirely know, but I don’t need to right now, cuz right now my mission field is my route to NY with my team and the impact our ride has around the world.
So here I am...again on the edge of taking on another epic bike ride for a cause that simply cannot be ignored any longer. Human Trafficking...Modern Slavery...Sexual Trafficking...Labor exploitation...whatever name you want to call it. Oppression and subjugation of another human is wrong...PERIOD. And when it is done in order to make someone a profit it is evil. To look at these young girls forced into sexual servitude at the season of their childhood is staring into the depths of evil and darkness. I am an atypical advocate of all anti slavery issues because I am insulated and removed personally from this hell that modern day slaves live in. I have a comfortable middle aged white guy suburban 2 dog 1 cat life. What in the world could possible motivate me into riding a bicycle...in the heat...about 75 miles a day...on a three inch wide bike seat...for 1800 miles...uncomfortable, hot, tired, and hungry ?? Simple really...two things...one...I have daughters that have been, in much smaller degrees, victims of sexual predators at one time in their lives. So, yeah, it's kind of personal like that. Secondly, and as important...God calls me to this cause in a very loud voice...actually He calls ALL of us. I didn't want you to think I was the only one...Seriously, Jesus was abundantly clear of what our response was to be to those who were oppressed. We are commanded...obligated...expected...to take care of them. We are to give the thirsty water, the hungry food, and the naked clothes. Any question on how basic that is ? Why aren't we doing this ? Why isn't the body of Christ responding in a powerful and unified manner ? That is something we must search our own hearts for the answer and respond. I always remember a line I heard in a promo video for Blood:Water Mission, when one of the members of Jars of Clay says, "Our knowledge now demands our action"...That is the great paradox for me... how can I see and be aware of immense suffering because of human trafficking and yet do nothing. I can't. So, this summer I will do something that I have discovered is a powerful tool to engage people in these issues. I will ride my bike...really far...again. There will be lots of stories shared and people will be, hopefully...excited,,,energized...empowered to see that they can, in fact, do something to shine a light into this darkness. It really is as simple as riding a bike...
So, it's been almost two years ago that I was on the verge of doing something amazing...Weird thing was I didn't have a clue of how amazing it was going to be. I was scared and totally freaked out. I wasn't a "do amazing stuff" guy. I was ordinary and not the one usually picked to be on the team. But God had a very different idea about who I was and His plan for me was pushing me to the edge. I have mentioned many times before I am sure that I would have thought of a million different things to show God how much I loved Him and wanted to serve others...but a bike ride...with a bunch of strangers...across the whole entire country...you're kidding, right ?? No, He wasn't kidding at all. I know many of those riding these epic rides this summer are having the same thoughts about now and maybe even before now. Even though it was two years ago it still is vivid and fresh in my mind each time I am reminded. I am being reminded a lot this year because a lot of the RideWell alumni are going on rides again this summer...including me and my wife. I am excited for all the "better stories" that are getting ready to be written, as Don says. It is a better story when you sacrifice yourself for someone you will probably never meet living in a place you may never go. They are often times in all degrees of bondage and live in a world filled with despair and hardship. I always find it interesting when someone says, "I couldn't do this...". Perhaps they are thinking that, using their own power and abilities, they could not ride a bike 80 or more miles a day. That is thinking in the realm of the natural world and the finite possibilities that cripple and enslave us. But, when you move into the realm of what God can do with your inabilities and weakness things become supernatural as He empowers you in unimaginable ways. I have found that there is more that a physical ability that comes but also an ability to tell an amazing story of the transformation that happens when we love God and love others. God likes to take very ordinary people and place them in strategic situations that will result in Him being glorified. The reason why we love good magic tricks so much is because seemingly impossible things still amaze us. I know there will be lots of seemingly impossible things this summer. I have just stopped trying to figure the trick out. You see, that's where we get ourselves in trouble...trying to figure the trick out. We think we become smarter than the magician and the trick loses it's ability to stun us. This is a dangerous way to look at how God does the unimaginable and unpredictable things in our lives. Those things only happen by living a life of risky faith and stepping out into wherever that faith leads. To do that, it requires bold thought, speech and action. We are called to these adventures for such a time as this. A time where those who live in fear and oppression will be encouraged that someone they don't know or may never meet would step out in faith and do something outrageous to bring hope to their world. Isn't that what it's all about? I think so. At some point you discover, on these adventures, it all changes and becomes not so much about the adventure and the physical challenge. It becomes the realization that I am in perfect alignment with what God has intended for this adventure and purpose is realized. Doing that within the confines of an unlikely collection of fellow sojourners creates a beautiful thing called community. In that community we find our authentic self and as I have said before, we become wrecked for the ordinary...and trust me, that is a very good thing. So, you have been warned...prepare...pray...be expectant and look for God to show up in some really unexpected places...He's waiting.
This is always the time of getting ready for a big summer of biking that I get a little unnerved and have a hard time focusing. One of the biggest problems for me is negative self talk and the chatter in my head that seems to ramp up as the time for leaving nears. I find that an incessant stream of doubt still runs through all that I do despite my knowing that God is completely in charge of everything. I know from past experience with the RideWell bike tour in 2008 that everything always works out...sometimes in the most phenomenal and unexpected ways. This time will be no different. It's just that it is sometimes easy for me to have my understanding and attention diverted from that truth. That is a trick that the devil uses to rob us of our joy and draw attention away from how awesome God is in His provision and blessings that will come on this bike tour. It is a reminder of how easy it is, if we turn our eyes away from Him for even a moment, to try to do something on our own power. It is more than obvious to me that trying to "make something happen" usually has very marginal success, if any at all. But...it becomes complicated because it calls into full view our faith and our utter dependence on God. That is what He wants. Our complete faith and utter dependence goes hand in glove with our obedience. It is certainly hard to believe in something if you do not step out in absolute faith and put it into action. You may believe that you can walk on water...especially if Jesus is telling you...but unless you step out of the boat you might always wonder if you really could have, right? This bike ride will challenge that concept every single day of the tour. It is an act of faith in the simplest form to just get on a bicycle and believe you will ride from point a to point b. But in the obedience of doing it and completely surrendering your every fear of failure, God rewards you with being blessed and more importantly being a blessing and a witness to others. This is what we are called to do, really. Love God...Love others... and tell this amazing story of the redemption and transformation that comes by a simple thing like riding bikes and serving others. Loving others that we don't know...that we may never see...that are oppressed...that are enslaved...that have no voice...that have given up...that have lost hope. I completely lose my fear and doubts in my physical and mental abilities when I allow myself to stop for a minute to consider that God empowers me for this trip. That is the bottom line...I am empowered by God in a way that ensures even on the hardest day I will make it...
" The Lord himself goes befor you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" Deuteronomy 31:8
I am SO pumped for the tour!!!!
The Underground Railroad Bike Tour
