There’s something about riding in unfamiliar places. This morning I took off from our hotel on a training ride through the countryside south of Indianapolis. I had a general idea where I was headed, but didn’t know what the roads would be like, how much traffic I’d encounter, or what kind of terrain I’d face. […]
Continue readingMore TagAn Able Bodied World? (from the archives)
Today we meet our team and start getting organized for next week’s ride. I thought you’d like to re-visit this article which originally appeared on December 1, 2011. Rich’s Ride provided countless rewards and a few challenges. One significant test arrived in the form of a question. A Christian disability-advocacy group invited me to a meeting. I […]
Continue readingMore TagThrough A Farmer’s Eyes
We stopped to see Becky’s parents on our way to Cincinnati. Becky’s dad is always interesting to talk to. He’s a farmer, lives on the same land his dad and grandfather farmed. When you listen to his comments, you immediately notice that he has a long-term perspective on most situations. He observes the current hot, […]
Continue readingMore TagRevisiting Our Theme Song
Music touches me–not really the music as much as the lyrics. I’m always amazed by the range of emotions that can bubble up when I hear the words of a familiar song. Since we’re about to embark on our next ride, I thought we ought to revisit our official theme song. It sends chills down […]
Continue readingMore TagWe Need Us
As we prepare for our ride, I have a question for you: Do you underestimate what you have to offer? Most of us tend to discount our potential to contribute. Someone else can do it better, so we leave it to them. I used to tell students to get used to an inescapable fact: nobody’s “best” […]
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Happy Monday! A quote from a favorite author inspires today’s word-of-the-week… DEPEND We’re on the threshold of a new adventure, completing the final stages of traveling and preparing to meet our team and get going on the ride from Cincinnati to DC. You know what that’s like. Anticipation, excitement, wondering if you’re ready and what […]
Continue readingMore TagNo Lone Rangers
Do you ever stop and think about how much other people do for you? Americans are enamored with the image of the lone ranger, the one-person success story. We love the myth of doing it ourselves. But it’s mostly a myth. The truth is that most success is the result of community. RICH’S RIDE is […]
Continue readingMore TagStrange Noises
Hi. It’s Monte, resuming my role as guest blogger. It’s been a while since we chatted, so maybe I should introduce myself since some of you might be new here. I’m Rich’s service dog, the one everyone always pets while they read the sign on my vest that says “Please don’t pet me.” I don’t mind. […]
Continue readingMore TagFires, Floods, And Storms
Fires char thousands of acres and destroy hundreds of homes in the western U.S. Deadly storms in eastern states leave millions without power in sweltering heat. Floods displace entire communities. It’s enough to leave us wondering when the frogs and locusts will show up. Where’s God? Ever asked that question? I have, and I’ll bet […]
Continue readingMore TagA Peaceful Morning Ride
I intended to post this on July 4, but some cretin hacked my site and it was down all day. Sorry for any inconvenience. Anyway, I invite you to take a July 4th morning ride with Monte and me and reflect a bit on freeedom. Enjoy. We’ll be hitting thew road in a couple of […]
Continue readingMore TagWho’s Out There?
Can we talk? One of the curious aspects of writing a blog is tossing words out into cyberspace without knowing who will read them. The conversation often feels one-sided. You learn a lot about me, but I often don’t know much about you. As we embark on the next chapter of this adventure, I’d like to […]
Continue readingMore TagIndependence Day
Tomorrow’s the Fourth of July. In most of the world that’s just another date. In the US it’s our national birthday. July 4th is Independence Day, the day we officially celebrate our freedom from British rule. It’s a day for patriotic music, parades, flags, and lots of great food. Freedom is a pretty good excuse […]
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