October 2018 – Rich's Ride

Two Kinds Of Obedience

I’ve always bristled at the notion of “obedience.” Obedience, to me, meant, *Shut up and do as you’re told!* No space for questions. Or nuance. Or the possibility of compromise. Obedience involved unquestioned alignment with some collection of rules, an ideology, or a set of beliefs simply because somebody with power says so. This sort of obedience conjured images […]

Preaching To The Choir

Turns out, preaching to the choir is the only way that makes sense. The folks in the choir already signed up and bought in. They’re curious about your ideas. They’re willing to listen, might even want your advice and guidance. Your ideas and input can be of incredible value. But only those in the choir, […]

About Dreams And Music

We’re all about dreams. The FREEDOM TOUR is all about following a big, crazy, God-sized dream. We believe following dreams is what God has in mind for each of us. The idea of dream-following is at the heart of our theme song. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to enjoy a look back at […]

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

“We just got passed by Mary Poppins!” Her bike was a cruiser. Upright position, wide handlebars, even a basket in front. The only thing missing was the funky hat. Our FRONT RANGE TOUR team was cranking up the Palmer Divide, a fairly stout climb on the way to Colorado Springs. Our riders were a bit […]

But…

Half-full? Half-empty? The answer is supposed to reveal one’s level of optimism. If I answered honestly, based on how I feel, most of the time I’d offer a third option. Half-empty…and leaking. Chronic depression distorts the lens through which I, and lots of others, view the world. My feelings tell me to interpret most circumstances […]

Whose Kids?

“What are you doing for our kids?” Five years ago. He was curious about the handcycle and our crazy ride around Florida to raise funds for Convoy Of Hope. Wanted to help us feed hungry children, but he hesitated when I mentioned the program was *international.* Five years later I can’t tell you what he […]

It’s Hard To Avoid…

…becoming cynical. …the temptation to fight back. …dividing the world into winners and losers. …believing winning matters more than anything else. …letting disappointment become anger. …letting the anger effect other parts of life. …refusing to let it go. …demonizing everyone on the other side. …the desire to go beyond winning and harm your enemies. …losing […]

It Ain’t Black Or White

Success or Failure? I’ve been creating a Review of FREEDOM TOUR 2018. Throughout the process I’ve felt this nagging question looming over my shoulder: Was it a success or a failure? Crazy, isn’t it? A year-long project involved several hundred people in a complex effort to foster relationships and support kids rescued from the horrors of […]

Who’s Really Free?

What’s the “free” in FREEDOM TOUR? It’s kind of a loaded word. Freedom might mean USAmerican freedom, the right to live our lives without unreasonable government interference. Or it might simply mean freedom of movement; “not in jail” = “free.” The FREEDOM TOUR works toward an end to human trafficking, freedom from slavery. But I […]