According to the author of Ecclesiastes (and Pete Seeger), “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Everything? I ask because an email from my friend Kari suggested it might be time to stop praying. She got my attention. Kari hasn’t lost her faith or her desire […]
Continue readingCategory: Freedom Tour
Why People Come Back
A friend asked me why she should join the FREEDOM TOUR team. I’ve listed the benefits before: Be part of a story bigger than yourself. Support kids rescued from human trafficking. Step out of your comfort zone. Stand for justice. Challenge yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Get closer to God. Have fun. As I made my […]
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It’s All About The Hub
I love good metaphors. I especially appreciate metaphors that involve circles. Make the circle a bike wheel and you’ve got the perfect metaphor for a blog about cycling. Our friends at Venture Expeditions created a terrific story involving the parts of a bicycle wheel. Here’s my interpretation. Consider how the parts of the wheel work […]
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It’s Not Always About Easy
Anniversaries offer opportunities to look back and project forward. My first handcycle ride happened eighteen years ago this month. Two blocks in 30 minutes…let’s just say it wasn’t the smashing success I imagined. If you’re interested you can catch the story of Exordio Somnii and The First Ride from previous posts. Here’s Tom and me […]
Continue readingThe Art Of Natural (And Controlled) Light
The article said photographers use either Controlled Light or Natural Light. Controlled Light attempts to make conditions reliable, predictable, identical. Controlled Light allows replication. Natural Light is, well, natural. It’s what’s there, never quite the same, so the conditions become part of the creation. Each one’s unique. Both take art, tools, and skill. One is up-front, […]
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Every Story Needs A Hero?
At the FREEDOM TOUR we’re motivated by God’s demand for justice. Our Motivation Statement,We cycle to bring hope and freedom to kids rescued from human trafficking, was inspired by these lines from Micah. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah […]
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Go. Set. Ready.
Wait, what? Go. Set. Ready. ?? The email arrived from my friend Kari. I figured it was a typo. Ever watched a track meet? First command from the starter is always something like Ready or Take your mark. It’s a warning, an indication to prepare because the event is about to begin. When everyone’s in […]
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Why The Answers Might Be Different
“Do you ever wonder why God didn’t answer your prayers?” It’s the time of year when we’re telling people about the FREEDOM TOUR. Often folks will ask how it got started, which leads to telling some version of the story of my injury. Stories connect us in powerful ways. That particular story often winds its […]
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Leave It All On The Field?
A true competitor wants to “leave it all on the field.” When the game concludes she wants to know she did everything, gave everything, held nothing back in pursuit of the win. Pain, sacrifice, the next game, the next season–none of that matters. The competitor has a single-minded focus on this game, this interaction, this win. All […]
Continue readingHow To Slow The Game Down
Players who move to a higher competition level often say the game “speeds up.” It’s more than the athletes’ physical speed. Everything involved tends to be more complex and requires players to know more, make more decisions, in a shorter time span. When they move up a level–middle school to high school to college to […]
Continue readingNIMBY
Do you feel like really bad things mostly happen somewhere else? Most mornings during the winter, Becky does an indoor spin class. She enjoys the community, sweating with others when they can’t ride outdoors. A while back the teacher was kind enough to tell the class about the FREEDOM TOUR. As she explained the basics […]
Continue readingMeet A Real Hero (Sort Of)
I’d like to tell you about a hero. She serves the kids at the HOME OF HOPE. Every month, in somewhat halting English, she sends updates. Praise reports, prayer requests, progress of individual kids (with names changed). Despite a constant scramble for staff and resources, her updates are always filled with joy and gratitude. I’d […]
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