Rich's Ride

I Don’t Wanna Start Over!

I’m updating the FREEDOM TOUR website. It’s learn-as-I go. Every time I want to do something new or different, it’s back to Google and YouTube and trial-and-error. It’s okay, though, because I enjoy messing with the details and figuring out how the code works. With this kind of problem-solving, it’s pretty common to start down […]

Can’t Get It Outta My Head

Does a song ever get stuck in your head? Psychologists call it “Involuntary Musical Imagery.” A few days ago a quote reminded me of an old gospel-country song called LONESOME VALLEY. Since then I’ve had the first couple of verses on “involuntary mental repeat.” You gotta walk that lonesome valleyAnd you gotta walk, walk it […]

Which Gospel?

“Sounds like you’re following a social-justice gospel.” I was talking about the FREEDOM TOUR and my experience with cycling and faith. I said “cycling for a cause” can be a great way to explore and deepen one’s faith in Jesus. Got some interesting dialogue, including this curious comment about a social-justice gospel. Sounds a bit […]

Prayer And Change

“I’m crazy enough to believe that the prayers of a few hundred people have an impact.” I said that in the middle of this big circle of riders and volunteers before the start of this year’s Freedom Tour Prologue. I believe it, too. Prayer matters. God hears our prayers and wants conversation. The spirit intercedes […]

Justice…Or Peace?

Is it possible to stand for justice…peacefully? Can people on bicycles really claim to “make a stand for justice”? Shouldn’t we storm the brothels, blow stuff up Rambo-style, rescue the victims and take out the bad guys? We’re riding bikes. In funny-looking helmets and colorful jerseys. Not exactly what we picture when John Wayne rides […]

Two Grand

On my last bike ride, the odometer clicked past 2,000 miles for 2019. That means I’ve cranked more than 39,000 miles since my first two-block ride in 1999. Depending on your perspective, that’s either a lot of miles or it’s not a big deal. Either way, this milestone offers an opportunity to reflect. I didn’t […]

The GPS Lady

Does your GPS have a name? We call ours Bertha. Her calm, reassuring voice is always available to tell me where to turn. If I mess up and take the wrong road, Bertha gently guides me back to the correct path. Often her soothing voice suggests, “Make a legal U-turn.” Bertha’s advice is always accessible, […]

Help’s On The Way

It’s the other part of the story. As part of Suicide Awareness Month, we told the parable last time of a man standing in the 10th-story window of a burning building and terrified of heights. But when he’s certain no help is coming, when fear of the flames rises and eventually overcomes fear of falling, […]

Fear And Falling

It’s Suicide Awareness Month. We see efforts across lots of media platforms designed to help us understand how pervasive this issue is and how many people suffer in often quiet desperation. Still, for those who’ve never experienced that sort of extreme despair, depression and suicide can be difficult to comprehend. As someone who struggles with […]

Remember The Next Step

Which way do we go? It’s a frequent question as we plan for FREEDOM TOUR 2020. Do we do same-old-same-old or something bold and brand new? It’s like standing at the edge of a cliff staring into an abyss of endless choices. How to decide? Sometimes we need to look back to find the next […]

They’re Waiting

That’s what I’ve learned from the FREEDOM TOUR. Folks want to be generous. They want to do justice. They want to be part of big, crazy, adventures. They’re waiting for someone to ring a bell or call a meeting. They’re at the line, ready for someone to yell, “Go!” In 2013, Becky and I hung […]

A Real Shortcut

“Just show us how to get the answer.” It was sort of a fun little dance. I’d encourage exasperated students to figure it out, they’d remind me that things would be so much simpler if I just showed them how to do it, I’d tell them “simpler” wasn’t the point. Even parents got in on […]

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