Wheels of Wisdom

Life Lessons for the Restless Spirit

Open Road Press

Contents

What Were You Made For?

All of us were created with unique qualities, and we were not cut out for just anything. If you were made for the goals you pursue, the satisfaction and energy you gain from your daily activities will confirm your calling.

By Debbie

Somewhere in the Midwest on TheHopeLine Tour — it might have been Iowa or Nebraska — Tim stated something that has stuck with me ever since. After I had exclaimed how much I loved the tour we were on, Tim looked at me and said, "We were made for this."

I'll never forget that. Tim is like E. F. Hutton. When he talks, people listen — probably because he thinks before he opens his mouth. I love that about him. Truly wise is a person who thinks before he speaks and says something that sticks with you.

A few weeks later, Tim's statement came to life. I was made for days like day seventy-six of TheHopeLine Tour. The cool weather, intermittent sun, rolling hills, and beautiful scenery invigorated me. Mile after mile, I felt my burning muscles and the fresh air in my lungs. I was made for that. Not only did we relish a good dose of bicycling, we climbed up and down eight flights of stairs to the top of a fire tower to catch a breathtaking view of the vast Missouri landscape. It was a picture-perfect day. After a rest day and much sleep the night before to recover from a grueling stretch in the Ozarks, I had sprung back to my energetic self once again.

I'm amazed at how difficult that bike tour was and how long we'd been gone. Since we'd departed from the Oregon coast well over two months earlier, I'd had a cortisone shot in my knee, burned my foot with boiling water while camping, and been diagnosed with an overuse injury known as "chronic compartment syndrome," which kept me off the bike for two weeks. There we were on day seventy-six, approaching Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and the Mississippi River in mid-September, with many miles left to ride.

Nevertheless, I was made for physical exertion and adventures like that. My knee, foot, and leg had all healed. And so we carried on. Some people might think I should have had my head examined to determine what kept me going after all those issues on the road. Once again, though, I was made for that. Just because we had a few setbacks along the way didn't mean we should have stopped and given up.

If you are doing something you were made to do, you naturally want to venture forward in that made-for-you task you love. Even when hardships come, you persevere, because that is part of the process.

Not all of us are wired to bicycle seventy miles a day. For that matter, not all of us are designed to work outdoors in the winter, to practice law or medicine, to spend a lot of time in front of a camera, or to work with children. Have you ever asked yourself, What was I made to do? The answer to that question could change your life. We all have unique gifts and desires. Once you discover your special attributes and devote your time to utilizing them, you'll experience deep joy and fulfillment as you live out a facet of God's calling on your life.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Personal Reflection:

1. What are your strongest personal attributes? What subjects interest you most?

2. How are you applying your strengths and interests on a daily basis?

3. When you think about what you need to accomplish today, do you feel energized or exhausted? Activities you were made to do should energize you no matter how difficult they seem.

Perfect Circumstances Never Arrive

You cannot wait for optimal circumstances before moving forward. Nor can you allow discouraging circumstances to deter you. Your opportunity may have a short lifespan.

By Tim

I love lessons that come to us when we least expect them. Sometimes, you experience these moments merely by observing another person.

On our honeymoon on wheels tour, we enjoyed two nights at a beautiful cabin on the shore of Petenwell Lake in Wisconsin with our host and friend Mike Porter and his family. Then, Mike drove Debbie and me several hours through violent thunderstorms to return us to our route. He dropped us into Cascade, Iowa, under sunny skies. Life was good! After breaking bread with Mike at a local Subway, we resumed our southerly journey to avoid Lake Michigan and the metropolitan Chicago area.

Less than two hours into our ride, we noticed a solo cyclist approaching on a recumbent bicycle with a trailer in tow. Given our late start and our goal of making it to the Mississippi River crossing at Muscatine, Iowa, before nightfall, we didn't want to stop for a break already. However, our polite waves would not prevent the upcoming conversation.

"Hi! Where are you headed to?" our fellow traveler shouted as he slowed his bicycle and crossed over to our side of the road, as if to pin us next to the shoulder. His maneuver made it difficult for us to cycle past him. We were anxious to continue our ride, but we weren't inclined to be downright rude. This fellow obviously wanted to talk.

"We're headed toward the East Coast," Debbie said. "We started in Oregon on July third."

"I'm headed to the Pacific Ocean," he replied. "I've had eight flats, and I've had to replace my rear rim twice. However, I'm not about to stop."

Soon, we discovered his name was Jim. He sold cars for a living in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where Debbie's father used to live. We had been there the prior summer to help her dad move to Denver.

"I've always wanted to do this but couldn't swing the schedule — until this year," Jim said. "My wife isn't much into bicycling, so I decided to go it alone."

Deep within, I felt the contrast taking shape. I might have been in Jim's shoes had I not met Debbie, although I'm doubtful I would have undertaken such a daunting challenge as cycling across America alone. After thirty-odd years as a single adult, I'd had enough loneliness. Maybe this guy just wanted a break from his wife — or vice versa. However, I couldn't help but replay the following life truth over and over in my head: It is not good for man to be alone. I also thought about how fortunate Debbie and I had been. We'd only had one flat tire and one issue with a screw coming loose from the rear rack on Debbie's bicycle. Ours had been a pleasure ride compared to Jim's journey. Yet he had an undeniable determination.

As Jim continued to bend our ears, we sensed he needed to engage with someone, and we were the logical choice on that road with little traffic, few homes, and no pedestrians. He was lonely, and why wouldn't he be after countless hours of solitary cycling and camping? Eventually, Jim had his fill of conversation and realized that we all needed to move on to maximize the daylight.

After parting ways with Jim, Debbie and I talked about how blessed we felt to have one another — and to have experienced so few mechanical issues on our journey. We marveled at Jim's determination and wondered whether either of us had the gumption to accomplish solo what it appeared Jim would do, although he had much climbing ahead of him. While we understood the type of experience he would have in the northern plains and the Pacific Northwest, we felt sorry for him that he wouldn't be enjoying it with someone special by his side. It was hard for us to imagine an adventure like ours without each other. We both concluded we wouldn't have considered cycling across the country alone.

As we continued cycling through the beautiful bounty of Iowa's cornfields, however, we began to see another side to Jim's situation. Debbie and I had lived very full single lives before meeting one another and marrying. Feeling sorry for ourselves and avoiding great experiences because we were single would have made no sense. To the contrary, we'd had ample time and resources as singles. We also did not shoulder the significant responsibilities associated with raising children, which might have prevented us from pursuing many enjoyable activities that helped develop us as individuals. We had matured the single way while our married-with-children peers were learning and growing through the rigors and sacrifices needed to raise families.

Although the grass may always seem greener on the other side, it isn't. The grass is simply a different type. The magnificent abundance that surrounded us on the rolling hills of Iowa, as well as the unforgettable images of cycling through the Pacific Northwest, reminded us that Jim's journey would dazzle him despite his solitude.

Any of life's circumstances comes with its own benefits. If you recognize your advantages rather than dwelling on the negatives, you'll be in a better position to recognize — and seize — your opportunities. Allowing a pessimistic perception of your circumstances to dictate your pursuits, however, will quash them. If God has placed a dream deep within your heart, eventually you'll have an opportunity to chase it. Look for opportunities in every situation. Ideal circumstances will never come, so don't wait for them.

He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

Ecclesiastes 11:4

Personal Reflection:

1. What are you putting off because you don't think the time is right?

2. Can you think of someone who seems to have it better than you? Think of an advantage you have that they don't.

3. What steps can you take now to move closer to what you'd like to accomplish?

Blow the Whistle

Packing a positive attitude for your pursuit will always make it more pleasurable and satisfying. Establishing some accountability will help you stay on track.

By Debbie

When you are touring by bicycle, you never know what to expect when setting out each morning. All you know is that you will encounter something new and interesting, and perhaps learn something in the process. On one particular day during TheHopeLine Tour, we would encounter another new state and learn a trick to becoming a better person.

Despite a cool and overcast start, we had wonderful weather for the remainder of the day. An early-morning race with a pair of deer proved too much for us, yet we persevered for our third consecutive day of biking more than seventy miles.

Leaving Metropolis, Illinois, and cycling into Kentucky all in one day felt like quite an accomplishment. For some reason, I thought Illinois would be flat, but it isn't. We climbed up and down hills until we stopped for lunch at mile forty-one. We also switched maps, leaving the Great Rivers South map and heading in the direction of the Underground Railroad route. Our new route and new direction foreshadowed a change I would make later in the day to improve our travel experience.

The end of our time in Illinois came at Cave-in-Rock, where we caught a ride on the free ferry across the Ohio River. No cars accompanied us on the ferry, just the two guys who operated the boat. As soon as we entered Kentucky, nothing awaited us except more hills — no people, no homes, and no crops for miles. Just like in other states along TheHopeLine Tour, we had the place to ourselves. The hilly terrain meant we had some challenging climbs, while the dense forest with no people around made for a lengthy and uncertain ride to civilization.

In our travels, we've used maps published by a nonprofit bicycle-touring advocate called the Adventure Cycling Association (www.adventurecycling.org). Those maps mentioned the possibility of loose dogs in Kentucky, so Tim had a bright orange whistle hanging from his neck, and I had one in the outside pocket of my handlebar bag for easy access. Mine offered the added benefits of serving as a compass and a thermometer. I had used the thermometer and compass more than the whistle, but I must admit I loved blowing the whistle on dogs that chased us.

At that time on TheHopeLine Tour, we'd already had to blow the whistle on dogs in Missouri and Illinois. I can remember thinking, Kentucky dogs: be prepared! We won't be wasting our precious water squirting you or fending you off with our bicycle pumps. The whistle would be the way to ward off unwanted canines in pursuit.

Before encountering any loose dogs, however, I discovered another use for the whistle, but you need the assistance of a spouse or a friend. I'm talking about breaking a bad habit I'd had at times on that trip ... well, actually, two bad habits.

It all started on the prior day when I'd made a sarcastic comment and Tim blew the whistle as a referee would and shouted, "Unnecessary sarcasm, fifteen yards!" He was joking, of course. However, after entering Kentucky, I thought, What a great way to break a habit!

So, I said to him, "If I complain about anything for the rest of the day, I want you to blow the whistle on me."

It may sound strange, but my request for Tim to hold me accountable kept my grumbling in check. I set goals for myself every day, and many days, I pray that I will not complain. Day after day, I fall short. On that particular day, I thought blowing the whistle on my complaining would be a great way to break that horrible habit. And it worked!

Instead of complaining to Tim, I started thinking of ways to put a positive spin on things. My knee hurt, but instead of complaining about it, I thought about the beautiful sky. I was so sick of the endless hills, but instead of dwelling on it by talking about it, I said I was grateful for the lack of traffic on those hills! The fear of the whistle blowing with each complaint kept me from whining. I tested Tim while pedaling up a very steep hill and complained about it. Sure enough, he blew the whistle!

If you have a bad habit to break, ask someone to "blow the whistle" every time you indulge in that habit. The list of habits that could benefit from some whistle-blowing interference includes gossiping, complaining, swearing, being late, smoking ... the list is endless. Chances are this behavior-modification plan will get you into shape rather quickly. You will be "a better you" once you've broken the bad habit and replaced it with a new, healthier one. Instead of complaining, turn it into gratitude. No one will blow the whistle on you if you're grateful and full of joy!

Thirty-two miles into Kentucky, we ran out of sun. Yet we were glad to have entered state number eleven on TheHopeLine Tour. After climbing 4,700 feet of elevation, we were heartened when a woman at a convenience store in Sturgis reserved a motel room for us. The map listed none, but she knew of a place with cabins for rent. They had closed early, but she had an "in" and, therefore, so did we. Small-town Kentucky hospitality was in the air.

When we arrived at the cabin, we had more pleasant surprises: it was beautiful, the price was right, and the adjoining market packed us a home-cooked meal — which goes to show that when you stop complaining, things will work out well in the end!

Attitude. It has so much influence on the success of a journey and the fulfillment of a destiny — and whether you will be miserable or happy along the way. Make sure you check your attitude at the door to your pursuit.