Sometimes it is Just One Tenth of a Mile at a Time—Days 4-6

The past five days have taken us over five mountain passes—the most recent of which was our tallest yet at 5,575 feet. Sherman Pass is what stood between our Friday stop in Republic and our Saturday/Sunday stop and rest day in Colville. Again, the scenery was incredible—mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, deer and even a moose sighting.

Sometimes, though, pedaling up the side of the mountain meant trying just to make the next mile, sometimes the next tenth of a mile, and then the next and the next. Eventually, we all made it.

Reminds me of the rest of life in many ways. We all face mountains in our lives. You could say we chose these mountains ourselves and sometimes our trials and troubles are the result of our own choices. Sometimes, though, they are things life just throws at us and we can’t see coming.

God never promised it would be easy, but he did promise his presence with us. Sometimes, though it is one mile, one day, one moment at a time. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And Romans 8 reminds us that neither trouble or hardship or persecution or anything else will ever separate us from the love of Christ. “No in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (v.37) Just like we made it over the North Cascades, Jesus promises in the end we, too, will be victorious.

We continue to meet interesting and wonderful people. People like Spider, part of a Christian motorcycle outreach at a rally in Republic, the couple who made a U-turn on a mountain pass to come back and see if we were really going across the country on bicycles, little kids, elderly couples, the young man at the youth event who just happened to be going by, just got out of drugs and wanting to connect with a church.

Today is a welcome rest day. People are tired and sore, but in great spirits. Tomorrow we have a 92 mile ride to Newport, our last stop in Washington.