Category: Reflections

Rich’s Ride has taken us to some special places. One of those is Grace Place, the homeless ministry of Galloway United Methodist Church in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. The people at Grace Place do amazing work, and it’s difficult to explain how warmly they’ve welcomed us into their family. When I’m asked why I do this, […]

Yesterday I told you about my Friday meeting with an interesting breakfast group. After the discussion, one guy approached with a simple, penetrating question. “What’s the obstacle?” I asked him to clarify. “I agree with you…God made us to dream and follow big dreams. So why don’t we do it? Why don’t I do it? […]

Ever notice that growth tends to be uncomfortable? Yeah…me, too. A while back I wrote a post titled Just Okay about my struggles with training for my recent tour. At the end I said God’s about second (and third and fourth and…) chances. But what do I do with those additional chances? I’ve noticed that […]

As I write this, Hurricane Isaac batters the gulf coast. Storms in the south aren’t new. I’ve heard of them all my life, but there’s something different about this one. Less than ten months ago we were riding beside those levees, talking to some of the people whose lives and livlihoods are seperated from the […]

Last time I talked about flat tires because it’s thorn season in Colorado. I’ve had six flats in the last five days! I have to admit something. Even though I’ve logged nearly twenty-five thousand miles in thirteen years of handcycling, I’ve never changed my own tires. My buddy Tom has changed dozens of them. Other […]

Note: I’m posting this both here and on the Bouncing Back blog. I think it’s a big deal, and I apologize for the duplication to those who subscribe to both blogs. One of the true highlights of the 500-mile IJM Freedom Tour was our visit to International Justice Mission (IJM) headquarters) and the opportunity to […]

On the last night of the IJM Freedom Tour I told the team I was disappointed with my performance. Ever since we got home I’ve had this nagging, generalized sense of disappointment, but I’ve been struggling to get my head around exactly what it means. Last night I finally understood as I listened to Trey […]

Why does someone ride a cycle up hills like this? Better question: why did I climb this hill in West Virginia on a handcycle? Becky shot this video from the car. My team was probably five miles ahead. You’ll notice that this was a dangerous road—too much traffic, no shoulder, and a very slow rider. […]

I’m normally not a museum guy. I think I’m not patient enough to really absorb the information. So today we visited the National Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Smithsonian Museum Of American History. Normally you might not see much commonality in those two places, but I guess my recent bike tour has narrowed my perceptions. […]

On this trip I’ve confronted the difference between dreams and politics. Politics is about identifying and achieving what’s possible. Dreams are about hope, and hope changes what’s possible. I hope I never diminish my dreams by settling for practicality. Becky and I are taking a few days to see the sights in DC. On Tuesday […]

On Monday our IJM Freedom Tour met for the final time. There were hugs and good-byes and pictures and tears. It was a bit like the last day of summer camp with an enhanced sense of impending separation and loss. When people share this sort of struggle and sacrifice, strong bonds develop. Our last gathering […]