I recently read an article about what makes us truly happy.  It said:

 

1) Making progress

 

2) Helping others makes us happy.

 

And that describes my experience on the Gulf Coast ride this week perfectly.

 

Let me explain. A few years ago, my health had deteriorated due to lack of exercise — mainly from riding a desk during my career in corporate America.  So I got a bike and began to ride, signing up for my first ride with The Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure in May of 2021.

 

During that ride, I barely met the minimum speed but managed to finish with the help of several fellow cyclists. After that ride, I joined a bike club and began to improve with the help of newfound friends in the club.

 

This week I realized my riding has truly become pleasurable instead of just struggling to finish the ride.  So, improving my health has not only helped me physically, it has also had social and spiritual benefits.

 

I have made so many enjoyable friendships along the way.  And spiritually, I believe I better understand the warning of 1 Corinthians 3:17. (If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.)

 

After all, without good health, let’s face it, I am more of a burden than a help to others. And that is the beauty of The Fuller Center — the true joy is giving to others by providing housing to those in need.

 

This week, I had the honor of helping put some new siding on a home for an elderly couple who were just delightful people. As we shored up the outside of the house, it stuck me that we were helping to protect them from high winds, rains and hail — the storms of life that sometimes rock our world. But the feeling of truly giving is greater than the feeling of receiving.

 

Every.

 

Time.

 

And me?

 

Happy.