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> Reflections on A Ride
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> "Whatever direction a relationship is headed, riding across the country together will accelerate the movement in that direction," said Hob and Deb, a couple we met who were doing just that. After having spent 56 days riding my bicycle across the country, I agree. Whatever direction my relationship with my friends was going, my relationship with my body was going, my relationship with God was going, the bike trip accelerated the movement. The ride was a metaphor for life.
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> Friendships thrive on cheerfulness. Of course, almost anyone can be cheerful when everything is going her way. Maintaining cheerfulness through a flat tire, a detour on the route, or headwinds on chip seal makes a good riding companion. Patience, kindness, and self-control abounded among our companions. Friendship was a huge part of my ride. Eighteen of us lived in community. For the most part, we did what was good for the group; we looked out for the needs of others. We lived simply. I had few possessions with me but more than I needed. The reward of deepening friendships was the payoff. Unlike most of the members of our group, I had never dreamed of doing this ride until my dear friend Katherine asked me. She believed that I could do it, so I believed, too. Her enthusiasm and support sustained me through a year of training and two months of riding. I could not and would not have done it without her. Her energy, her helpfulness to me and others, and her perseverance leave me in awe. She remains my most remarkable friend.
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> Nobody has ever called me an athlete. However, for a year, I used my body more intentionally than ever before. "Ride, eat, sleep, repeat," was the way one rider described our lives. I reaped the incredible rewards of breathing deeply all day long as I climbed mountains, rode through deserts and forests, sailed down long hills. The food was wonderful; the excellent diet gave me strength and stamina. Almost every night brought deep, refreshing sleep. Riding, eating, and sleeping all reinforced each other. As long as I kept pedaling it was all doable, so I kept pedaling. I learned not to fret; that steep grade, that tall bridge, that long stretch of construction would soon pass. Whatever was really bad did not last. Whatever was really good did not last, either. The sense of well-being is indescribable.
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> In many ways, the whole trip was a pilgrimage. Although I have never experienced a retreat at an abbey, this may have come close. I spent my days in God's world. Katherine and I began each day by sharing our faith with devotions and Bible reading. As I rode, I prayed. I often made little repetitious prayers so say over and over -- my pastor calls them breath prayers. I sang hymns. Although I often started out the day anxious about the challenges that lay ahead, these prayers kept me calm. Being grateful helped a lot. No matter if the weather was bad, the pavement was rough, or dogs were chasing us -- we were grateful for the beauty of the earth, the hospitality of strangers, good health, road angels, friends, and the presence of God. Trust was essential. We could not do this alone. We trusted our riding companions and our guides for help. We trusted thousands of drivers who gave us room to ride. We trusted that God's grace was sufficient for every need.
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> So now I am home. What do I want to do about it? I want to continue to live more simply. I want to live a more focused life by finding ways to distinguish what is important from the flood of information that surrounds me. I want to hold onto the attitudes that were nurtured on the road - cultivating friendship, using my body, being grateful in all situations, considering the common good, putting aside fretfulness, deepening trust, and praying without ceasing. My daily prayer is to find ways to encourage others to be more active so that they, too, will experience the benefits of improved health.
