Category: Reflections

A team is a curious thing. I’m working these days on routes and presentations and lots of other stuff that will involve our team on FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR ’14. It’s curious to think about twelve individual riders and two SAG drivers, while realizing that I’m planning for this other entity called a team that […]

We’ve got our team! Twelve cyclists and two full-time support drivers will make the 500-mile trip together from Cheyenne to Raton Pass. It’s gonna be a blast! I’m anxious to tell you more about these committed folks and all the other people who will help us accomplish our mission. Today I want to let you […]

I get to do some of the coolest stuff, mostly just by hanging around amazing people like you. A while back a few of you took me up on my Offer You Can’t Refuse to sponsor a guy from Harvest Farm on the one-day ride as part of FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR ’14. Over the […]

My friend Paul and I talked a while back about the benefits of a bike adventure combined with advocating for a social justice cause. 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 […]

“Your injury gives you an unfair advantage.” People actually say this to me. I get their point. Somehow they think it’s easy to sell books and land speaking gigs because I have this inspirational story to write and speak about. Frankly I haven’t always reacted well. I don’t say it out loud, but internally I’m […]

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 […]