Yesterday’s quote was a core statement in our program:

We can accomplish a lot if nobody cares who gets the credit.

Of course, in the competitive environment of athletics, that’s much easier said than done – for adults as well as players.

But it’s not just sports – Jesus spoke about the human desire to seek recognition and have the best seat at the table.

He said we become fully human when we release this silliness, when we become the servant rather than the served, when we don’t care who gets credit and get on with pursuing justice.

I think there’s a corollary to this idea:

We can accomplish more when we let go of the need to be right.

That’s a tough one for me. I tend to get myself in trouble by speaking first and listening last.

The FREEDOM TOUR CLASSIC will happen in just a few days (June 20). I marvel at how many people do so many different things to make this day happen. Most events of this size have paid staff, but everyone in this circle volunteers their time, talent, and resources because they believe in the cause and the community surrounding it.

But we’re humans. No matter how hard we try, people get tired and cranky. Somebody inevitably grumbles about “why do they do it THIS way?”

And maybe they’re right. There probably are better processes, and I might get defensive because I get tired and cranky, too. And besides, I’m right! Right? (Sarcasm font)

Fortunately, our circle is centered around Jesus and his grace. Mostly we’re able to keep our focus on him and on the kids we support.

It really is remarkable what we can accomplish together when nobody cares who gets the credit and nobody needs to be right.

That only happens in a circle with Jesus at the center.

Don’t know about you, but I’m grateful for the cheerleaders in my life, the folks who speak words of kindness and encouragement into my broken-down places.

In just a couple of weeks (June 20), more than 200 cyclists, walkers, and volunteers will gather for the FREEDOM TOUR CLASSIC. They show up for a variety of reasons, but they’re all cheerleaders. Everyone encourages each other, but mostly they’re cheering for the kids at the Home of Hope.

I’ll be honest – I get kind of emotional on the day of the ride. While most other folks scramble around taking care of last-minute details, I just sit back and imagine our 22 kids in the center of this huge circle of supporters. Kids who once were castoffs – imprisoned and hopeless – free, filled with hope, the center of attention.

Imagine that circle. Picture Jesus, high-fiving people and hugging the kids. It’s just a great big celebration!

On that day, at least, I can let go of my frustration about not being able to save EVERY child. I can feel Jesus saying, “Rich, do you have any idea how much every single one of those 22 kids means to me? Can you stop and think about what I sacrificed for them?”

For those few minutes, I remember he didn’t ask me to fix the world. He asked me to follow him. I remember that following means doing my best – and trusting him for the outcome.

While everyone else hustles to get everything going, I sort of sit with a smile and imagine a group of celestial cheerleaders. I suppose I should feel guilty.

I don’t.

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You can become one of our cheerleaders.

MAKE A DONATION to support the kids at the center of our circle.

Yesterday’s photo captured an episode from that adventure. I was invited to speak to a wonderful group of folks who were working hard to overcome developmental disabilities. I was supposed to be somehow inspirational to them.

As almost always happens, they ended up inspiring me. Their remarkable attitudes and their excitement about the opportunities they’d been “given” were infectious, and most welcome to a guy who was admittedly a bit weary after lots of miles.

We spoke to the director of the center and learned of their struggle to maintain adequate funding. It was frustrating – the people running this place were making such an extraordinary difference, helping these folks operate in the community, teaching them to be self-reliant, and securing the relatively tiny bit of funding required was a constant battle.

Those sorts of conversations tend to depress me, but this group of folks wasn’t going to allow that. We went outside and found them lined up, several with orange pom-poms, prepared to give me a rousing sendoff!

These people had all the reason in the world to complain. Instead, this lovely group wanted to cheer for me.

Occasionally someone wonders why I keep writing this blog. The answer is simple.

I hope to be a cheerleader. I hope somewhere along the line my story encourages or inspires someone. Thinking about yesterday’s quote, we’ve all got some torn down places. Each time I write, my goal is to say something that might, in some small way, rebuild one of those spots in someone else.

Or, in myself.

Each time I speak to a group, Becky prays the same silent prayer. “Jesus, please speak to these people through Rich’s words.”

On that day in Florida, it was the other way around. Jesus spoke to me through a group of people with silly orange pom-poms.

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Spend 45 seconds smiling at my group of cheerleaders:

Can’t see the video? CLICK HERE

Here’s a silly example – I tried all day yesterday to set aside a couple of hours to write this blog, but it was one of those days when things just continued to get in the way.

I suppose I could infer that God was telling me I wasn’t supposed to get this blog done. After all, if he wanted me to write, he wouldn’t keep interrupting.

I COULD reach that conclusion, but I don’t think that’s what was going on.

Two possibilities: either it was just one of those days, and I need to be okay with that, or I wasn’t disciplined enough to turn off the noise and get the writing done.

Either way, I don’t think it had anything to do with God opening or closing doors.

It’s Friday. I hope you have an enjoyable, relaxing weekend. See you Monday.

An open door is not always God’s will, and a closed door is not always God’s rejection.

I think he’s telling me I can’t trust my circumstances to determine the direction Jesus wants me to take. I knew that, but…

What if that open door leads precisely where I wanted to go anyway? That’s gotta be a sign, right?

And what if the closed door shuts off a path I really didn’t want to take anyway. Surely that’s God telling me I was right. Right?

Sadly, I don’t think it’s that simplistic.

A personal example – when Becky and I started doing bike rides, we raised money for Convoy of Hope, an amazing organization that does remarkable work all over the world. We worked with them for several years.

Maybe you’ll understand what I mean when I say we just never felt completely “connected” with that work.

Then we had the opportunity to do a ride for International Justice Mission. That ride was our introduction to the issue of modern-day slavery and human trafficking. During that ride, we encountered a quote I’ve shared before:

You may choose to turn away, but you can never say again that you did not know.

Driving home after that ride, Becky and I became convinced that we could not turn away. We had to do something.

We investigated, and eventually connected with Project Rescue and the Home of Hope we’ve worked to support since 2013.

Supporting Convoy of Hope wasn’t wrong. God didn’t close that door.

I believe that, because we continued to try to listen and trust, Jesus nudged us in the direction of our gifts and passions.

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Want to help support the kids at the Home of Hope? DONATE HERE

Bonhoeffer’s quote, “Your YES to God requires your NO to all injustice” sounds great. Except for the “all” part.

I’m okay as long it applies to someone else – missionaries, activists, people with training, people who know how to be courageous. But I have a feeling Jesus wants me to apply that statement to myself.

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.

Those statements sound great when he was talking to the disciples. They get a little uncomfortable when he’s talking to me.

I list my excuses. I’m old and bald (obviously disqualifying). I’m retired. I’ve spent nearly 4 decades in a wheelchair.

I have that conversation with Jesus. He smiles kindly and says, “Yeah, so?”

He’s not being mean. He just knows I know better. He knows there are too many times when I choose comfort over following. He knows too frequently I serve when it’s convenient rather than when it’s needed.

That’s kinda the opposite of placing myself last.

I’m grateful for grace, for his kind guidance as we journey together, and he gently nudges me a bit more toward his path rather than mine.

Someone said recently, “It’s too bad you can’t go and meet the kids you serve.”

I thought a lot about that, and decided an expensive trip halfway around the world isn’t necessary. I can love and serve our kids without meeting them face-to-face. And it doesn’t matter if they know anything about an old, bald guy in a wheelchair.

What matters is they know they’re loved by a crazy group of people who like to walk and ride bikes.

And that they know Jesus loves them.

Your YES to God requires your NO to all injustice.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is an enigma to me. A man who stood firmly against the Nazi regime, who could have chosen safety in America but elected to return to Germany and speak in Jesus’ name against injustice.

He intentionally and courageously placed himself in danger because he believed his faith demanded it.

He also conspired to murder Hitler. I’ve always wondered how he squared that intent with the clear, powerful words he wrote and spoke about Jesus’ teaching.

I’m not judging. I can’t put myself in his shoes, can’t imagine the terrible internal conflict he might have felt.

Each time I encounter Bonhoeffer’s words, it’s a reminder for me to stop and check myself. Because I know how easy it is to say what I would do in a difficult situation from the comfort of a place where I will likely never have to make such a dangerous choice.

I do, however, have a modern-day model to emulate. There are many ways to rescue people from trafficking situations. Personally, I’d be tempted to put together a well-armed assault team and do whatever it takes. That would be a better TV show and would likely produce bigger short-term results.

I’ve told you before – we partner with Project Rescue because we believe they strive to follow Jesus’ model. Love your neighbor, even the neighbor who happens to be a criminal. Form relationships. Trust Jesus to work for good within those relationships.

I’ve seen the results. Former traffickers transformed into followers of Jesus who work with rescued women and children.

The problem, for me, is patience. I want them ALL rescued, I want the criminals held accountable, and I want it to happen RIGHT NOW. This notion of loving people one-at-a-time, waiting on Jesus’ timing – why doesn’t he work faster?

Perhaps “why” indicates my temptation to take matters into my own hands and make it happen on my timeline.