A Journey for Freedom And Justice That’s the tagline we carried on the back of the FREEDOM TOUR jersey. The tour’s about bringing a bit of freedom and justice to some kids rescued from the horrors of human trafficking. I realize this week, as Christmas approaches, how easily I get caught up in doing the […]
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Who Needs A Second Chance?
The FREEDOM TOUR helps some kids who need a second chance. Things didn’t go so well the first time. Mothers trafficked, living in brothels, not the sort of beginning any child should receive. We get the opportunity to partner with the staff at the HOME OF HOPE and offer these kids a second chance. They […]
Continue readingLet’s Talk About Heroes
Who are the strong people? I watched the 2016 CNN HEROES Awards and learned about ten folks who saw injustice and decided to do something about it. Ten ordinary people doing what they can, where they are, with what they have. (Click here to see videos.) An 87-year-old man who uses his horses to give special […]
Continue readingIs It Okay To Move Forward?
So you got kicked in the teeth, or the gut, or some other sensitive spot. It won’t go away, this sense of loss and disappointment. Perhaps it fades for a few moments, but then it returns and you’re certain it’s part of your new reality. You’re not going to “just get over it.” Now…what? I’ve […]
Continue readingFreedom Tour ’17 Video
There’s not much cycling happening in Colorado right now. Bikes hang in garages as skiers flock to snow-covered mountains. However, there’s lots going on as we prepare for FREEDOM TOUR ’17. Next summer will be our fifth anniversary! Time flies, and we’re excited to do some fun new things to celebrate. I hope you’re planning to […]
Continue readingThree (Unexpected) Wise Men And Injustice
Seems like we hear a lot about injustice lately. Pipelines. Trafficking. Racism. Sexism. Religion. Immigration. Even bathrooms! Seems like everywhere we turn there’s some sort of debate, discussion, or dialogue about injustice. The FREEDOM TOUR, of course, enters the discussion by supporting kids rescued from the horrible injustice of sexual slavery. So here’s a question: How […]
Continue readingDreams Are Messy
If it’s worth the effort, it’s likely didn’t happen the way you imagined. God-sized dreams are generally messy, difficult, and scary. It takes courage and trust to look beyond challenge to see opportunity. I love this video! I admire the sort of creativity that can capture and express an idea so powerfully and succinctly. I invite you […]
Continue readingExploding My Brain (Part 2)
Last time I recalled a college professor’s lesson that exploded my brain. I wasn’t exaggerating. I thought college would be a place to learn math and physics. I didn’t expect some random psychology lesson to to present an idea so completely new that I had no prior learning to which I could connect it. The […]
Continue readingWhen A Simple Lesson Changed Everything
Where were you the first time your brain exploded? I was a college freshman during the winter of 1969-70. In one of those huge psychology lectures the professor showed a slide, a photo of a Marine ROTC student in full dress uniform. The reactions were immediate and visceral. Babykiller! Murderer! Hero! More guts than any […]
Continue readingWhen You’re Too Slow
My first handcycle rides were slow. We’re talking an embarrassing kind of slow, the kind of slow where the neighbor ladies pushing kid-carriers sometimes passed me. And that’s when I was moving at all and not stopped to rest my weak, skinny arms. I was really, really slow. My fastest ride during the summer of […]
Continue readingWhy We Need Bridges (And Why They Scare Us)
I’m fascinated by rivers, paths, and bridges. Aside from the people I encounter, rivers, paths, and bridges are consistently the most interesting and inspiring features of nearly any bike ride. In nearly every setting there seems to be some sort of unique charm. This captivation sort of evolved within my parallel interests of cycling and writing. […]
Continue readingFake Dream Or Real Community?
Doing a big, crazy, impossible bike ride taught me something about following dreams. For perhaps three years I cranked around the same familiar streets and trails near my house, imagining what it would be like to do a cross-country ride. I planned and schemed and visualized. Eventually I even started talking about it. I loved it, […]
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