On a cycling team, the soigneur cares for the riders’ physical needs. He’s the servant leader of the cycling world.
Susie and Leroy are our husband-wife soigneur team. They volunteered to spend an entire week driving our support vehicle and making sure our gear gets from place to place. They meet us at rest stops and make sure we’re fed and hydrated.
These folks understand service. We get to have all the fun. They cook and pack and wait and make sure we have what we need. We couldn’t do this without their unselfish, sacrificial attitude.
It’s humbling to hang out with so many people who are so selfless. Woody and Kristen hung back all day with me, crawling slowly up hills, encouraging me when I struggled, always smiling when I knew it wasn’t fun to ride so slowly.
And then I’d reach the crest of a hill and the rest of the team would be waiting. I tried to get them to go ahead, but we’re a team and they take that seriously.
It’s a little embarrassing. Mostly, though, it’s humbling to be part of that kind of love.
Want to know how to make a difference?
Find a group of committed people. Form a community based on love and service around the notion of shared sacrifice for a common purpose.
Rinse and repeat.
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