Hey everyone! Brief update: training is going hokie dokie as I am mostly just getting runs in for now. I feel that with the experience of last year and a couple of good weeks of solid biking I should be good to go for the ride (it is very hilly here in Blacksburg which helps make the hills we will see in Southern Illinois seem not so hilly!) One of my friends shared this story with me about a year ago and it has stuck with me so I wanted to share it with you all.
Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?” The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.” “I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?” “The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I don’t throw them in they’ll die.” “But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.”
What we are doing right now might not end abortion right away, but it can and will make a difference in someone’s life. It could even be giving someone the opportunity to live their life outside of their mother’s belly.
Biking for Babies is not about us biking however many ridiculous amount of miles we are about to bike. That is actually a very tiny fraction of what Biking for Babies is about. Biking for Babies is about all of us (yes I am talking to you too) each trying to make a positive change in the world by doing whatever small extra effort we can to help those in need. We need to help the women dealing with unexpected pregnancies, the women dealing with post-abortion trauma, and all the innocent defenseless babies in their mothers’ wombs. Our small actions will lead to big consequences and all of our actions together will lead to something pretty special.
Please help these women and babies in need however you best can. Whether that is through prayer, donations, or service, please help out and protect the beautiful gift of life. And whether you see the fruits of your efforts right away or not, realize that you are making a difference.
