Sometimes I get it partly right.
Friday during my ride I got caught cranking up a pretty steep hill. I’m much better than I used to be, but I’ll never be able to climb hills well due to some combination of a 35-lb bike and partially-functioning back/shoulder/arm muscles. I’m not alone–all but very elite handcyclists struggle with steep hills. It’s okay, because I keep working at it.
So Friday afternoon I was grinding up this hill and a guy was kicked back in his driveway drinking an adult beverage and enjoying the spectacle. As I passed he actually laughed and shouted, “Should I get a winch?”
There was a time, not that long ago, when a remark like that would have crushed me. I would have yelled something nasty, cranked off in a foul mood, and arrived home in a spiral of depression and self-pity, all because some stranger made fun of the poor crippled guy.
But this time I smiled back. I yelled, “No, thanks. I’ll be fine. But thanks for the encouragement!”
How cool is that? As I reached the top, I actually wondered if maybe the guy was just teasing. After all, I’ve been guilty of tossing out sarcastic remarks that were taken the wrong way. Maybe that’s what happened here.
I took away two lessons. First, don’t let the folks on the sidelines distract us. There will always be critics, folks who didn’t take the risk but want to offer their expert opinions. We need to move forward with following the dream, moving toward the mission, and serving the kids and each other.
Second, stay aware for opportunities to share the story. I wish I’d had one of our FREEDOM TOUR “green cards” with me. Maybe I could have handed it to him, started a conversation, and told him about human trafficking, the HOME OF HOPE, and our special 25 kids. I might have enlisted another supporter.
Perhaps this was one of those divine appointments we talk so much about. If so, I missed it. But I got it partly right.
At least I didn’t start a fight.
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