rolling and tumbling...

So, you might be asking yourself..."what does Isaac Hayes aka BLACK MOSES have to do with riding bikes?" Answer = not much, really but you gotta admit he was C-O-O-L...Seriously, I spent last weekend with the RIDEWELL 2009 team in Nashville as they passed thru on the way to the Atlantic. I had a great time getting to know some of the team and putting some personalities behind the pics I've been seeing. I got to ride in with them last Friday into Nashville and rode out leaving Nashville on the Greeenway last monday. There were so many sounds,smells,looks and conversations that reminded me of last years trip. I discovered I still don't like to get up, choke down breakfast and try to ride 60+ miles of rolling Tennessee hills...but I did. More importantly, I still don't like saying goodbye...but I did...a lot. There is a downside in getting to know the team and that is their struggle becomes mine, their passion makes me want to move to love more, their wrecks become personal and I am no longer a passive observer of their obstacles...like weather, dogs and drain grates. I was both exhausted and excited when I got home. I am finding as I age like a fine cheese, it takes me longer to recover both physically and mentally. My body came back to Ky. but my mind kept riding out on the seemingly endless highway. I shared a devotional with the team before they left last monday. WoW did that ever bring back memories...I looked at the faces of the team and my heart was in my throat. I talked about impossible things and how much God loves impossible things. I thought about my my mantra..."God uses ordinary people to do impossible things". I don't care what anyone says...riding your bike across the country is ONLY, I repeat O-N-L-Y made possible by God empowering us to do this "epic ride". This year has had an unusual amount of mishaps and taken individually seem awful at the time but God is the architect of this ride and it is being crafted to suit His purpose. Hard for us to accept sometimes...but true. So, RWT 2009 you're headin' in...the end looms...your place at the ocean is reserved for you...you will join an elite group soon...despite rain and wrecks savor these days...and finally as the mustachioed old man on the blue bike said..."it's not how you ride...it's how you ride in"