As FREEDOM TOUR 2013 rolls out of Cheyenne, I should tell you a bit about some special team members.

Colin and Teagan, 2 teenagers, joined the ride with their dad, Patrick, who hoped for a bonding experience with his sons.

Maybe not all that unusual, except – while others on the team rode sleek, light road bikes, the boys would use heavier, less aerodynamic MOUNTAIN BIKES.

Mountain bikes are not intended for long rides. Only teenage boys would consider cranking 500 miles, including a mountain pass, on mountain bikes.

I’ll confess – I had doubts. Someday I’ll learn it’s not up to me to choose a team. We open the door, and we need to trust that Jesus brings the right people. When somebody doesn’t seem to fit, it’s most likely my preconception that needs to change.

Over the years our teams have been diverse and often seemingly mismatched. It’s been remarkable to watch people with a range of abilities and faith backgrounds come together around the notion of shared sacrifice for a common purpose.

I suspect there’s a lesson in there somewhere about what can happen when we set aside petty divisions and focus on what really matters. My friend Pastor Jeff calls this “Major in the Majors & Minor in the Minors.”

Colin and Teagan delighted us with their youthful exuberance. Instead of complaining about their clunky bikes, they were often the first ones to leave a rest stop. While the rest of us relaxed in the shade, someone might point and laugh as the 2 of them climbed a nearby tree.

During morning devotions, they weren’t goofy tree climbing kids. They asked challenging questions and offered interesting comments. Far from “not belonging,” Colin and Teagan were integral members of our first FREEDOM TOUR team.

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Here’s a photo of the boys and their dad concluding the ride at the summit of Raton Pass.

Maybe Jesus knew what he was doing.