Wow!
What a day, what a powerful wind, but what a powerful event! Three locations, over 500 riders and although it threatened, we did NOT have rain. What a blessing.
I saw so many old friends, made some new ones and I was, once again, inspired by the people who joined us to suffer a little on the roads, to helps those who suffer on the refugee highway.
Wow!
For me, it was the hardest riding I did all season. The wicked wind, gusting in our faces for so much of the route, and so full of moisture ... it felt like a winter day. But once again, I was inspired to keep going by those who joined us ... on the road.
This week the volunteers will be all over our office, helping sort out and enter the data into our system. I have a great team who will lead them with excellence. So stay tuned, I'll update the final tally as it become available.
Wow, what a day.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Ride Day ... Early
It's a little after 5:30am, Yvonne has been up and getting ready, and I'm doing my last minute check of the weather conditions for 'ride day'. I have a mix of feelings for the day, knowing that we are going to have fairly cold ride and we could have rain. But, like I have said, you have to suffer a little, and we will be suffering for and with those that suffer greatly.
However, I checked the ride statistics, and wow ... I'm blown away! We have 501 riders today and together 'we' have raised just over 195k! Praise God. This is such a boost and encouragement.
A good chunk of those funds will go back to local churches who put teams into the ride and will support local efforts to love and serve refugees and former refugees. What a great partnership!
But, back to my day. I've got gear laid out on the floor of my room, and I have to choose 'how much' to put on given the cold temperatures.
More later ...
However, I checked the ride statistics, and wow ... I'm blown away! We have 501 riders today and together 'we' have raised just over 195k! Praise God. This is such a boost and encouragement.
A good chunk of those funds will go back to local churches who put teams into the ride and will support local efforts to love and serve refugees and former refugees. What a great partnership!
But, back to my day. I've got gear laid out on the floor of my room, and I have to choose 'how much' to put on given the cold temperatures.
More later ...
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Coming up on the Ride for Refugees
Every day a little closer to the big Ride for Refugees -- Sat Oct 13th.
Training is done, now we just pray about the weather. It looks like rain! Argh! However, there will be 450 riders who have raised 150k to date! Wow, what a thrill this will be.
Loving and serving those who have suffered so much ... it is a priveledge, it is a responsibility, it is following Jesus and his mission to the poor.
Stay tuned ...
Training is done, now we just pray about the weather. It looks like rain! Argh! However, there will be 450 riders who have raised 150k to date! Wow, what a thrill this will be.
Loving and serving those who have suffered so much ... it is a priveledge, it is a responsibility, it is following Jesus and his mission to the poor.
Stay tuned ...
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Echoes in the forrest
Last night I went for a run ... to think, to relax, to pray and to prepare for the upcoming 'Ride for Refugees'. I train with a heart-rate monitor and govern my pace according to particular 'zones' and in this case, I was planning a long run at a moderate pace.
It was a beautiful evening, with alight breeze and cooling effect after a warm October day, and I was warming up and feeling good. As I reached the first for rested section of the run, I heard the sound of another runner behind me ... and they seemed to be far off at first, then steadily coming closer. I looked down at my heart rate as I felt the surge of raw instinct to 'speed up' and not get caught by the approaching runner. But then the counter thought, this is not a competition and have embraced sports like running and cycling for enjoyment, exercise and not competition.
My mind flashed back to an earlier conversation I had with Dave Loney, my executive coach and friend. I described to him how I used to live, all-out adrenaline seeking, coffee chugging, multiple stimuli seeking, never satisfied unless over achieving! Years of that pursuit left my body, emotions and spirit broken ... and I needed healing!
That healing came in the form of a new outlook on life, on self and success. I needed to embrace the gospel of Jesus in a new way, and slow down the 'spin in my mind'. In my late 30's I was unable to ride my bike, run for any distance and sit for any length of time, due to a lower back problem. My inner healing began when a physiotherapist said to me, "you will not heal until you stop re-injuring yourself, and to stop re-injuring yourself you have to reduce your stress." She went on to say that I needed to change my vocation because the way I was responding to my vocational demands was quite literally 'killing me'. So, change I did, and thus began a ten-year journey of inner and outer healing.
Back to the run in the forest, and hearing the footsteps of an approaching runner. I looked again at my heart-rate monitor, sorted through my options and dismissed that idea that I could pick up my pace so as not to be 'caught from behind'. In a moment, I felt liked I passed a mini test ... keeping my focus on the long run, both physically and metaphorically.
I waited for the approaching runner as I came through an open area then finally turned around to see what I thought would be a young, strong person only to discover that the conditions were just right to produce an echo from my own steps. I was hearing myself and I laughed at the absurdity of situation. I went on with a smile and enjoyed the entire run with no further temptation to produce a burst of speed to 'prove' I could still do it!
My inner monologue quited and I found myself repeating in my head, "Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven". What would this earth look like if we truly embraced the Kingdom? Thoughts to ponder for the next echoes-in-the-forest run.
It was a beautiful evening, with alight breeze and cooling effect after a warm October day, and I was warming up and feeling good. As I reached the first for rested section of the run, I heard the sound of another runner behind me ... and they seemed to be far off at first, then steadily coming closer. I looked down at my heart rate as I felt the surge of raw instinct to 'speed up' and not get caught by the approaching runner. But then the counter thought, this is not a competition and have embraced sports like running and cycling for enjoyment, exercise and not competition.
My mind flashed back to an earlier conversation I had with Dave Loney, my executive coach and friend. I described to him how I used to live, all-out adrenaline seeking, coffee chugging, multiple stimuli seeking, never satisfied unless over achieving! Years of that pursuit left my body, emotions and spirit broken ... and I needed healing!
That healing came in the form of a new outlook on life, on self and success. I needed to embrace the gospel of Jesus in a new way, and slow down the 'spin in my mind'. In my late 30's I was unable to ride my bike, run for any distance and sit for any length of time, due to a lower back problem. My inner healing began when a physiotherapist said to me, "you will not heal until you stop re-injuring yourself, and to stop re-injuring yourself you have to reduce your stress." She went on to say that I needed to change my vocation because the way I was responding to my vocational demands was quite literally 'killing me'. So, change I did, and thus began a ten-year journey of inner and outer healing.
Back to the run in the forest, and hearing the footsteps of an approaching runner. I looked again at my heart-rate monitor, sorted through my options and dismissed that idea that I could pick up my pace so as not to be 'caught from behind'. In a moment, I felt liked I passed a mini test ... keeping my focus on the long run, both physically and metaphorically.
I waited for the approaching runner as I came through an open area then finally turned around to see what I thought would be a young, strong person only to discover that the conditions were just right to produce an echo from my own steps. I was hearing myself and I laughed at the absurdity of situation. I went on with a smile and enjoyed the entire run with no further temptation to produce a burst of speed to 'prove' I could still do it!
My inner monologue quited and I found myself repeating in my head, "Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven". What would this earth look like if we truly embraced the Kingdom? Thoughts to ponder for the next echoes-in-the-forest run.
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