Bikers for Justice

My wife and I had the privilege of hosting two bikers who left California heading for Massachusetts. They arrived safe and sound but missing one rider. Somehow, he missed the train and arrived too late to catch the Lake Express Ferry from Milwaukee, WI to Muskegon, MI. He did catch the next ferry and the six bikers were reunited.

As for me, I wouldn’t dream of riding a bicycle across the United States much less across town. My long-distance riding days are over (incidentally, they never did begin). For me this is not a senior moment waiting to happen. These riders, six collegians rode with a mission as well as passion.

Their primary goal was not to successfully traverse the nation. Rather, they wanted to make a statement or two. The first was to help foster a better sense of Compassion, Mercy and Justice as they crossed the country mingling with fellow believers and strangers. They quickly discovered that some strangers didn’t remain alien very long as their hospitality and compassion was kindled by these Riders with a Mission. Others were not as cordial.

The other goal was twofold: to raise an awareness and funding for Spark Ventures, a "unique" way of sponsoring children from Zambia. The other was to promote the work of the Acirta Project. This organization was engineered by a couple of students from Azusa (CA) Pacific University which constructs inexpensive but practical, unique bicycles for needy Africans.

It’s a small world in many ways with the sponsorship of children and improving mobility for young and old alike. As we hosted two of the riders, one just happened to be the great grandson of my late step-mother’s father’s brother. Or maybe I should say he is the grand nephew of my step-mother. Eric Landin and I actually had never met before (about time, right?). Our other guest, Matt Engquist, we discovered, had grandparents with the same name as my Swedish grandparents: SjÖgren. Small world but a big country (they did mention they had two down, only one thousand miles to go).

They plan on 50-75 miles a day on off-the-beaten-highways and on occasional bike trails. They are sponsored by North Park University so the income they earn all goes toward their worthwhile projects. They were strictly on their own with no accompanying vehicle to help them with flat tires and other amenities such as hauling luggage, food and supplies. They lamented how much trash plagued the roadsides and were forced to put up with wind, rain and sun, nasty overly-protective birds and indignant squirrels.

Their BIKIN’ AND BLOGGIN’ is quite candid and informative. Let me end with a quote: "I often find myself laughing at my old ‘boxed up’ definition of God . . . where God’s work is [confined to a sanctuary] . . . but there is work to be done everywhere and anywhere." Amazing what can happen on a bicycle. And off.