Rich Dixon brings us an update.

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Last time our team discussed my odd aversion to accepting assistance.

Our discussion began with a teammate’s uncomfortable assertion that service, in our culture, is often tied to convenience. I don’t remember if anyone said it out loud, but as we talked around this issue, I suspect we were all thinking the same thing.

We’re too comfortable with being comfortable.

I’ll speak for myself – I’m good at talking about sacrifice. Mostly, I’m not all that willing to actually do it. I’m simply very adept at justifying my personal comfort.

Jesus’ call to service wasn’t about comfort and convenience. He invites me to step into sacrificial service.

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When I express my reluctance to accept help, I hope I don’t seem ungrateful. I completely understand that I can only do what I do because I’m surrounded by a huge community of generous, caring people. It’s one of my favorite jokes – lots of people work really hard, just so I can be “independent.”

My brand new handcycle is a great example. You may recall that my previous bike broke down last fall. Any repairs would have been temporary, at best.

A huge circle of people came together and contributed to purchase my spiffy new custom-built bike. It arrived a couple of weeks ago in a great big box, with slightly more than “some” assembly required.

So, three friends – engineers and bike geeks – spent most of a day building this crazy-looking contraption.

I’m deeply grateful for this remarkable gift. Of course, it allows me to do something I enjoy, but I hope it serves a much larger purpose.

I believe this shiny red bike can become a symbol of the FREEDOM TOUR. I hope it reminds everyone who sees it of the kids at the Home of Hope.

Please enjoy this short video.