Like nearly everyone else, I remember where I was. No compelling story. No personal connection to the towers or planes. Just a Tuesday with kids in Room 5. More than where, though, I recall the feeling of helplessness as I learned the horrific details. An old wheelchair guy couldn’t rush out and enlist, couldn’t go […]
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Climbing
I’ve done a bit of climbing recently on my bike. Horsetooth. Maniac Hill. South Marina. Bingham Hill. It’s a new thing for me. Nothing spectacular, not like the real climbs Becky and my other cycling friends do all the time for fun. But like any other sort of training, you start small and build up. […]
Continue readingWhen Is Enough?
“Will ten years of the FREEDOM TOUR be enough?” A friend asked the question last week. I didn’t have an immediate, clear response. I’ve thought about it – obviously, doing this forever isn’t an option. But…when? I’ve been pondering for a few days. When I retired, I knew I wanted to retire “to” rather than […]
Continue readingWary
I saw a young lady on the bike trail recently, smiled and said, “Hello,” and was a bit offended when she looked away. Then I remembered – on a secluded stretch of the path, young women need to be wary of strangers. How sad that they must be aware of their surroundings, careful not to […]
Continue readingI Hope I Don’t Forget
I’ve shared a couple of lessons from COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR 2021. There’s one more. I hope I keep re-learning this one. Even on a team, every person travels their own journey. As part of a team, we ask people to sacrifice and serve. Some of that is obvious and public; some is private and unseen […]
Continue readingStill Learning (Again)
I hope I’ll always be a learner. Last time I talked about a lesson re-learned from COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR 2021. Paraphrasing a pastor friend: You learn a lot about how a person feels about serving and sacrificing by asking them to serve and sacrifice. Jesus is pretty clear…my profound words don’t mean much to Him. […]
Continue readingStill Learning
I always wonder what I’ll learn from a tour. As a teacher I learned a great deal from students. On these tours I’m supposed to be a leader, but each year I learn – or re-learn – important lessons from my amazing teammates. COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR 2021 brought together a remarkable team of individuals with […]
Continue readingConversations About Blessings
Last in a series about how I’m talking to Jesus about the COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR. First parts here, here, and here. + + + There may be some discussion about this one. Honestly, my most frequent specific request is “Your will be done.” Along with the courage to actually mean it. I’m better at the […]
Continue readingConversations About Gratitude
Part 3 of a series about how I’m talking to Jesus about the COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR. First parts here and here. + + + I say “Thank You” more than I used to – and mean it. Often it’s gratitude for people and relationships. Sometimes it’s just “thank you” for nothing in particular, even when […]
Continue readingCommunity Conversations With Jesus
Part 2 of a series about how I’m talking to Jesus about the COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR. Part 1 here. + + + I love it when our team prays together. I love the community and the unity. Praying together over time is such a bonding experience. Especially for folks with such a broad range of […]
Continue readingConversations With Jesus
The COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR begins this week. I find my conversations with Jesus (prayers) about our tours are different these days. I wonder if you’ve had similar experiences. I’ll post a series of short thought thoughts leading to our departure Thursday Morning. Maybe they’ll prompt some discussions. For example, I don’t ask for specific outcomes […]
Continue readingThe Big Production
My best friend got married a few years ago. I suspect his mom secretly wanted – for her only son – the big, formal Catholic church wedding with a priest and all the traditions. Instead we gathered in a beautiful meadow in the foothills. The groom and groomsmen wore flannel shirts. I performed the ceremony, […]
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