Category: Reflections

I’ve heard a lot of people talking lately about wanting to run a marathon. I think it’s a response to last year’s Boston Marathon bombing. People want to be part of BOSTON STRONG.  However, I suspect most of them would like to have run a marathon while few would actually want to run one. It’s […]

When do you train? For most folks, training occurs later—which is the same as never. I’ll train when I have time, when the kids are older, when the job slows down. But later is a place in Fantasyland rather than a spot on the journey of life. Some folks trained a while back. They got […]

What should you do with an impossible dream? A while back I spoke to about six hundred middle school kids—at an all-school assembly at the end of the day on Friday. Not sure if that’s brave or crazy. The kids were great. I encouraged them to dream big dreams and believe they can accomplish remarkable things. […]

This isn’t home. As a follower of Jesus, that’s the eternal perspective that helps us make sense of an otherwise senseless world. We’re not home yet. C.S. Lewis said we’re rebels in enemy-held territory. We may know the ultimate result of the war, but knowing makes the battle no less pleasant. And while we’re here, […]

Some of the best things to learn are things you already knew. Last week I finally got my bike off the trainer, out of the garage, and on the road. I’ve cranked more than 30,000 miles since I started handcycling, and I still love revisiting the feeling of joy on that initial ride after a […]

I’m not much of a movie snob. Becky and I watch movies for entertainment. We don’t care much about critics or Academy Awards. At times, we choose a romantic comedy so that we can laugh and snuggle in bed together. Other times we might be in the mood to watch some movie with superheroes or […]

The guy asked what we could do to make people feel safe. I thought it was the wrong question, but I listened to see where the conversation would lead. Eventually the discussion produced this astonishing statement: “The secret to doing important work is feeling safe.” Do you agree? As a teacher I concluded that productive […]

Do you have a childhood hero? Henry Aaron played baseball and lived his life with humility and grace. In the summer after fifth grade I could walk to Milwaukee County Stadium, pay fifty cents, and watch this great man play right field for the Milwaukee Braves in the prime of his career. Even better, my […]

If you’ve been here awhile, you know Monte’s part of the team. I’m probably biased, but he’s pretty special. Beyond being a great dog, Monte lives with a specific purpose. His entire life is dedicated to service. Monte was selected as a small puppy based on particular personality traits. For months, skilled trainers developed and […]

I have a cycling enemy. Lots of people would think the enemy might be miles, but I can do miles. Some would choose speed, but I don’t fuss about speed so that’s not an issue for me. I picture my enemy as a troll who sits at the bottom of every single hill, even the small […]

My friend Paul and I talked a while back about the benefits of a bike adventure combined with a social justice mission. We shared stories of riders who exceeded everyone’s expectations because they were riding for something bigger than themselves. I said I wish everyone could have that sort of experience and sometimes I struggle […]

Most of our society’s like a football game: a lot of people who desperately need exercise sit around and watch a small group of people who desperately need rest. In an entertainment-driven culture, that’s how it works. We don’t take the risk and try things; we watch the experts do it for us. We get […]