Written by: Gloria Mesick, Orange Ride
As I sit outside this beautiful, sunny Sunday morning, I reflect on what this journey has meant to me. I am happy to be heading into the last week of our ride knowing that I will be going home to my family and my own bed and shower each night, yet sad to know that I may never see some of these people I’ve grown so close to this summer.
This adventure has been good for me both spiritually and physically. After biking almost 3200 miles and climbing some steep hills, I feel I can physically do most anything I put my mind to.
More importantly, my faith has grown deeper on this journey. While biking each day I have had the chance to clear my head and get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and to think about and give praise to God. I have loved the mix of ages on this trip. The younger individuals on this trip have given me hope for the future with the faith that they already have and their giving nature.
I am the oldest girl in a family of six children, and I have always been an independent person feeling I should take care of everything by myself. It is hard for me to take help from others without feeling that it is a sign of weakness. Living in this community of people has really been a gift. I have been cheered on at the rest stops, worked with others on chore teams and led into busy cities by other riders.
I have learned that this is not MY journey in life, it is HIS journey for me and whatever HE gives me I am going to make the best of it each day. We have a young girl in our group who had an accident and has not been able to ride since. I know she’d rather be out on her bike, but she didn’t let it ruin her trip. She has been riding in the support van ringing the cowbell and blowing her air horn as she passes us. She makes me smile each time she goes by.
Even though I may never see some of these people again in my life, I would like each of them to know that they will always have a special place in my heart and I will never forget this faith-filled journey.
