The Journey, 2009: The Retreat

I know it looks like the same picture, because I am wearing the same shirt and helmet I was wearing last year, but it is almost a year later, and on my other touring bike, the Bianchi Volpe I call, "Clark", after one of my heroes, William Clark. (The Novara Safari in last year's picture, is called, "Lewis", by the way.)

I needed to get away. I needed to think and pray. I needed to "take my brain out, hang it on a limb and let it air out" as an old EMT instructor of mine used to say. May was a very stressful month for me, between work, volunteer stuff (like coordinating EMS coverage for a marathon race) and my business, plus putting together a team that seems to not want to be put together. Some, like my wife or her Bible school instructor Dave, like to go to a retreat center Like Pacem in Terris or The Wilderness Fellowship, (both of which are marvelous places which I strongly recommend) but I find solace and introspection in the ride, as well as the time. The ride to, in this case Willow River State Forest campground, prepares me for the time of respite. The ride back prepares me for the road ahead, which, when you consider I battled winds of 16 to 22 MPH, is an interesting metaphor.

Once again, I went back to my favorite devotional book, "Ride the River" by Dr. Larry Christensen. I was led to read the chapter, "The Candidates". Like Lewis and Clark, we had no shortage of people who said they wanted to go on this trip. Like the church, we had a real problem with getting them to commit to the enterprise. I was reminded to put this in God's hands, not mine, and also to look beyond the doors of New Life! Lutheran Church. So there it is. I am posting this in hope that God will lead someone to read it and lead their heart to be part of the team. I will go it alone, if that's what He tells me to do, but I hope that He has the right people committing, coming and ready to roll. To step up to the plate, or the handlebars as it were, and travel the road for the Lord.

We proceeded on...

The Two-Wheeled Explorer