Orientation

Now that we are two and a half weeks into the Ride:Well Tour... wait... tomorrow is our three week-a-versary... ok, so now that we are three weeks into the Ride:Well Tour, I feel like I need to re-orient myself. We are closer now as a team, more like a family. We are encountering more conflicts in a different way, bike issues and more injuries that are becoming less novel and more agitating as they persist. We are heading into new terrain, too, as we get out into northern California and the towns become less populated and more sparse. When I step into situations where I lose normal comforts, I may say that I am fine with it and speak to the notion that I think it is a valuable experience in a persons life that will help them grow, but when it really comes down to it, it really affects me mentally. Not having cell phone service or a comfortable home, for instance (even though I am very grateful for the blessings we have from the churches that are opening their doors to us), it is so hard to think deeply or to find peace when I don't have the normal comforts of life. I think that a lot of us feel that way when we step out of our comfort zones and lose the things that make us feel at peace, things that are material. Spirituality and faith in Christ is the greatest provider of comfort and strength - Jesus is the Prince of Peace - but how often do we really ask Jesus for peace and comfort? Do we have real need?