Rich Dixon catches us up on the riding!

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It was time to begin FREEDOM TOUR 2013.

Our hardy little team, accompanied by some friends who came to ride with and support us on the first leg of the journey, gathered in Cheyenne. We began a tradition that’s continued through every ride for 12 years.

HELMETS UP! We gather in a circle, raise our bike helmets, and pray. The purpose is simple.

The beginning of a ride gets chaotic. Lots of energy, everyone’s excited. It’s easy to lose sight of what we’re doing. It’s tempting to believe this is just another bike ride.

So, when everyone’s in a hurry, we stop. We remember why we do this. We remember we follow Jesus and trust Him to use our efforts in ways we’ll probably never see.

The tradition of Helmets Up sets us apart. In a sport of get-to-the-top-first, we’re reminded “it’s not about me.”

Interesting paradox – as I let go of riding for myself, riding becomes more meaningful.

Might work in other areas of life, too.

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A couple of fun and interesting things happened during our short break.

1. Jesus and his people surprised us during the FREEDOM TOUR CLASSIC. We expected about 165 cyclists – more than 200 riders actually showed up, along with 70+ volunteers, to surround the kids at the Home of Hope with love.

Check out photos of this amazing day. And thanks to everyone who donated to support our kids.

• Becky and I “celebrated” by riding 73 miles on my 73^rd birthday.

A donor matches $1 per mile as part of the Hope & Freedom Challenge, so together we raised $146 for our kids. If you would like to join the challenge and raise funds as you walk, run, or ride, click the link. Best part – it’s free! [Jon does this part too, with running.]

To be continued…