Rich Dixon is a rock star.

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Guiding the FREEDOM TOUR, I’ve learned the importance of traditions like Hope Rocks (last time).

It’s tempting to shortcut or skip over traditions when you’re in a hurry. Everyone wants to get going, the schedule’s tight, why not save a little time and bypass the details?

Explaining “why” matters. Even when they’ve heard it before, important traditions reinforce foundational truths.

Taking time, explaining principles, discovering creative ways to keep them fresh – these prevent consequential traditions from becoming meaningless, repetitive rituals.

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In recent years, our friend The Imperfect Potter has created custom Hope Rocks and helped us expand this story.

Volunteers and riders purchase these works of art (proceeds go to our kids). They carry them on our rides and to many other places. Hope Rocks have traveled to European mountain passes, the top of the Washington Monument, and other interesting spots. Hope Rocks reside as reminders on entry tables, work desks, and bedside stands.

Many riders have fun staging creative Hope Rock photos.

Some folks carry multiple rocks. When someone asks, “What’s this about?” they hand over a stone. Turns out – hope is a pretty good conversation starter.

People give them as gifts to friends who are struggling. The gift of hope, and perhaps the beginning of a conversation…

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When we asked that first group of 7 cyclists to put 2 stones in their pockets, we had no idea that 12 years later hundreds of Hope Rocks would have this sort of impact. Each photo of a Hope Rock on a desk, at the top of a mountain pass, or on a neighborhood sidewalk, each story of a coffee shop conversation centered around a Hope Rock, convinces me even more… when we follow Jesus…

Hope Changes What’s Possible.

To be continued…

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Would you like to be part of this story of hope? To purchase one (or a few) Hope Rocks Click here.