Category: Freedom Tour

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday. Ever since the turkey settled, we’ve been buried under an avalanche of one-time-only, gotta-hurry-before-they’re gone “bargains.” It’s all marketing, a scheme designed to create a sense of urgency and scarcity. These *holidays* reinforce the perception that there’s not enough for everyone. Better jump in before you’re left out, […]

I hope you’re excited to see what we’ve been up to. I also hope you’ll take a few moments to check it out and consider how you might join us. Just one nudge, if you’re an out-of-towner: Northern Colorado is a beautiful place for cycling. Last year folks came from at least 4 different states […]

Our small group talked about “integrity.” We’re working through Daniel’s story of faithfulness during a life in Babylonian exile. This week we focused on Daniel’s ability to maintain his integrity in the midst of challenging circumstances. The word “integrity” gets tossed around a lot. As a teacher, I wanted my students to understand that living […]

Becky came home with a new insulated travel mug. It’s a mug. Pour the coffee, pop on the lid, drink. It’s not complicated. So we laughed when the box included several paragraphs of instructions. Single spaced, double sided. In an impossible-to-read font. Those *instructions* give the impression that using a travel mug is an intricate, […]

Occasionally I need a reminder. I suppose we could gather as many cyclists and supporters as possible, and ask them where we should go. Take a poll, pick the most popular option, and spend a bunch of energy building consensus. Of course, some folks won’t agree. Either they’ll decide to drop out or they’ll be […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]