RICH’S RIDE has taught me a great deal.
I thought the whole crazy notion was about me doing a big handcycle ride. My friend Dick Foth helped me understand that Rich riding a bike wasn’t worth the investment of time, money, and effort. He knew I’d reach the end and feel the sense of emptiness that comes with doing something for myself.
What’s Life About?
I’m pretty sure it’s not about the endless Pursuit Of Happiness or Chasing Success.
Some think life’s about accumulating knowledge, or service, or seeking inner peace, or maximizing personal potential. Many claim there’s no meaning at all—we’re here, we’re gone, and that’s it.
I believe we exist to glorify God. But from a practical perspective, that doesn’t help much. All it does is change the question.
How do I live a life that glorifies God?
I think God wants us to make the most of the years He gives us. We glorify Him by using the days He gives us as pages on which to write a great, meaningful, God-sized story. And when you write that sort of story with your life, you’re involved in something that’s too big for you, your resources, your abilities.
You have to lean on God and trust Him for the part that’s beyond you.
I think that kind of story involves three parts.
You need a quest. Call it a dream, a mission, an adventure, or a calling—it’s got to be something you’re passionate about, something that’s bigger than you, and something that serves others.
Visually, I picture it as a hill I can’t climb alone, and I don’t know what’s on the other side.
When I first seriously considered a cross-country ride, I opened a new folder on my computer and named it “Crazy Quest.” Everything dealing with RICH’S RIDE lives in that folder. It’s a constant reminder that this isn’t a job or an obligation. It’s a quest, a crazy, God-sized dream.
You need a community. God created us for relationship—a meaningful story can’t happen in isolation.
Your quest has to be an expression of love, because that’s who God is.
You need hope. The Greek word is elpis, which means expectation, confidence, and trust.
Hope lets you tackle the quest with confidence, knowing God will keep His promises.
Hope doesn’t promise you’ll succeed. It does promise the effort won’t be wasted, that God will use it all for good.
Hope allows you to face fear with confidence because Jesus promises to travel with you.
Hope allows you to do the good you know today (James 4:17) because you’re confident about the future.
RICH’S RIDE is my crazy quest. I’m grateful that you’re in the community that’s surrounded us on this amazing adventure.
The Journey of Hope Continues.
Please leave a comment here.
