Happy Leap Year! Usually I’m all about training and continuous, incremental improvement. Keep riding, running, walking, talking to God, day by day, and over the long term big changes happen. Yesterday, on Leap Day, I looked back at my life and noticed a few points at which the move from Point A to Point B required […]
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When It’s Worth The Risk
Stepping out in faith is risky. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Trusting God to commit to the climb without knowing where it leads–that’s a risk. Actually climbing the staircase probably isn’t that hard. On the other hand, a well-marked, well-planned climb to the […]
Continue readingWhy It’s Never That Simple
“My life is over.” When doctors told me the reality of my injury–spinal cord damage and paralysis–I absolutely knew my life was over. I couldn’t walk, run, ride a bike, or do any of the things thirty-six-year-old men were supposed to do. I’d lost everything, and my life was over. It’s easy to understand my immediate […]
Continue readingYou Will Get Tired
“Didn’t you get tired?” I told the story of my 1500-mile Mississippi River handcycle ride to a group of men earlier this week, and I guess I glossed over the hard parts. When you talk about a big dream, it’s easy to recall sunshine and smooth roads. I did get tired. A lot. And here’s a funny […]
Continue readingHere’s How We Really Change The World
I taught math to teenagers for thirty-five years. I enjoyed my teaching career. My students left me with a bald head and a number of valuable lessons. Among them: Kids may be reluctant to believe what you say, but they’re always ready to believe what you do. It’s a life principle; talk is cheap. Words matter little […]
Continue readingWhen Equal Isn’t Quite Equal
I’ve been in a courtroom a couple of times in the past few weeks. Observing a friend’s partial journey through the system, and surveying other cases while we waited, got me thinking about fairness and justice. It’s interesting to watch judge and attorneys work together to apply the law equally while accounting for each person’s […]
Continue readingGuilt And The Least Of These
Ever felt a little guilty for “not doing enough”? Ever been bonked with a “you’re going to hell” scripture aimed at pushing you to to sign up or open your wallet? Ever felt like you’re supposed to eradicate poverty, solve racism, eliminate human trafficking, or at least feel bad about not trying? Ever wonder if you’re […]
Continue readingDon’t Fall For Fear’s Magic Act
Fear behaves like an accomplished magician. Ever notice fear’s remarkable slight-of-hand? The big flourish, the loud bang divert our attention from the real action. LOOK OVER HERE! where nothing’s really happening, and while we’re distracted fear picks our pockets. Fear desperately seeks to engage us with BREAKING NEWS that likely isn’t breaking and ON-SCENE REPORTERS who probably […]
Continue readingWhen You Should Pick A Lane
I recall the first time I drove on a city freeway. Kid from Iowa, multiple lanes, traffic zooming all around, signs pointing in all directions, drivers speeding and changing lanes from all angles. I felt overwhelmed and my mom offered some great advice. “Pick a lane.” She told me to choose a lane, drive with […]
Continue readingWhy You Train Matters (And Why You Should)
Training always begins with individual growth. Might sound selfish, but that’s how it has to be. Training, initially, is an individual deal. Only strong, skilled individuals can comprise a strong, skilled team. So whether you’re training for an individual activity or something intrinsically team-oriented, you’re have to focus first on what you can do to […]
Continue readingThe Truth About Training
I think a lot about training. I’m certainly not a personal trainer. I’m not even especially good at my own training, for cycling or for other, more important parts of my life. I think about training because it’s a great metaphor for what we’re all doing. We’re constantly preparing, growing, learning, becoming. Those are all acts […]
Continue readingWhat’s Next?
End-of-the-year is a time to reflect. For me that means looking at where the FREEDOM TOUR has been and where it’s going. I can’t think about the FREEDOM TOUR without thinking about my friend Wayne. I borrowed these thoughts from our Florida Tour in 2013. # # # Wayne was the first person I told about […]
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