FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY

 I have recalled Eleanor Roosevelt's words several times throughout this tour where she says, many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.   It's the first part that happens often during a long-distance tour.  There's just not enough time for the last part of her words to take root.  So, let me introduce you to a few of the many people that I have encountered on my bike tour.  

MEET MARK AND DERICE (pronounced DeReese) FILLMORE.

It was Sunday and since I had served as an UMC elder for 20 years, I was in Pastor Mark's pews come 10:30 am worship.  Following worship, Derice--who has a finely honed charism of hospitality--invited me to join them for lunch.  But to where to go?  Oh, wait!  Since there's only one food stop in town the choice was simple.  The The Plum Thickett Inn.  Mark and DeRice have seen the firsthand the polarizing destruction of a denomination that has split over human sexuality.  About 8,000 churches in the US have disaffiliated from the UMC and many of those who have remained in the denomination are demoralized and discouraged.  I suspect that Mark and DeRice may fit into that category.  Yet, I sensed a faithfulness, a keen mind, and hope in Pastor Mark.  And though we would be on different sides of this divide, the Fillmores and I had a truly holy conversation.  Prayers, Mark and Derice, for your congregation that has had many casualties as a result of these Methodist wars.  

MEET FARMER MARK. 

I had stopped in Burlington ten miles across the Kansas state line into Oklahoma one morning.  The town was a wide spot in the road.  It had a single gas station and a small grill and snack section inside.  Mark comes up to my booth.  So, is that an electric bike?  Cross country cyclists are a marked breed.  What gave me away?  Sweat dripping from face and arms?  Spandex shirt?  Bike helmet?  Somehow he knew.  So, I explained the little I knew about ebikes and how they are getting more folks out riding again--especially older adults.   Then I sent the probe back to him.  Tell me about your farming career.  Well, I started farming fresh out of college in 1970.  Over time, his agra-business grew and eventually he ended up with maybe 6,000 acres.  So, we exchanged farming stories since I too was a product of a Minnesota farm family.  Mark then said, my boys couldn't have started into farming like me.  The cost to get into farming now is astronomical.  Why a good combine is about $1,000,000!  All I do now is administrate.   I hire out combine operators when the corn's ready.  But I'm never actually out in the field.  He told me that he was fazing out of the farming industry.  My boys want to take it over and that's fine with me.  So, I told him that I'd be praying for his farm and family's success.  

MEET MIKE.

When the 12 pm shuttle time arrived for me to depart for the Will Rogers Int'l Airport  apparently no one was available or willing to shuttle me.  Finally I heard, I'll take you, coming from behind the front desk.  Mike is an olive-skinned fortyish guy who spends half his time in California and the other half in Oklahoma City.  We loaded up my bike trailer and bag and headed out.  I commented on how grand this hotel was.  "The food was top notch, beautiful places to sit and work, well-appointed rooms."  After acknowledgement, with his arm he fanned out in a half-circle.  Twenty years ago, an entrepreneur came to town and bought up motels.  Today he owns eighty motels/hotels in five states.  I sucked air in awe of this achievement.  But here's the thing.  In ten years no one will even remember his name; he'll be forgotten.  I responded with a paraphrase of Psalm 39:7:  "For everyone walks about as a shadow, and disquiets himself in vain; he heaps up riches and cannot tell who shall gather them."   So in the end it's not will we be remembered, but WHO remembers us.  I shared how God the Eternal, the Ancient of Days, knows us by name and loves us.   Unfortunately, we'd arrived at the departure terminal, so we parted like old friends.  And promised to live a worthy life. 

MEET KEITH AND JOLEANNE.

Through a series of mini-catastrophes, I met Keith and JoLeanne.  They taxied me to Oklahoma City my final biking afternoon.  What is remarkable about Keith is his quest for God.  Raised Church of Christ, he eventually left and wandered into the Pentecostal camp.  He knew that he'd come into something real, but unexplainable.  He'd seen praying for the sick, speaking in other tongues, and all manner of charismatic manifestations.  Yet, he still yearned for more.  So, when he asked me about my journey, I shared with him that no matter how revved we get on Sunday morning, very few Christians are "Self-Feeders."  What's a 'self-feeder?' he wondered.   Basically, it's how we nourish ourselves during the week through prayer and Scripture.  So I walked him through the BCP offices of daily office and lectionary.  When we departed he gave me his contact info and we agreed to keep in further conversation.  Thanks, Keith for your heart.  JoLeanne's too.  May you have ever deeper conversions into the Love of God.