This reflection is a part of a series of missionary contributions where you’ll hear more about their “why” for defending and celebrating life with Biking for Babies. This post was shared by Conor, a first-year rider missionary from Pennsylvania.
When I first heard about Biking for Babies and the National Ride, I was amazed by the mission and excited about the possibility of becoming a missionary.
However, I was also afraid of biking 500 miles in a week, thinking I might fail or quit beforehand. I had only about a month to decide whether to sign up, and I was torn.
Eventually, I decided to take the risk, despite having little bike experience, no knowledge of pregnancy resource centers, limited involvement in the pro-life movement, and many questions about how I would physically manage this ride.
I accepted this as a challenge from God to spread the Gospel of Life and to become a better man. I committed myself to training and preparing for the National Ride in the right ways.
TRAINING AND FALLING HARD
During training, I struggled early on, especially with the shoes that clip on and off, often falling hard. This experience connected me to Jesus, making me reflect on the pain he felt while carrying the cross and falling. I chose to embrace the pain and keep fighting each day because I was fighting for a righteous cause.
THEN THE RIDE BEGAN
During the National Ride, I felt great after the first two days and believed I was physically, spiritually, and mentally prepared.
On the third day, we encountered many steep hills. Though I may not have shown it, I struggled to stay on my bike and wanted to get off on those hills. As I climbed the steep hills, I dug deep and remembered why I was doing this.
MY FAMILY’S OWN HILLS
I thought about the struggles my family had faced. Before I was born, my family lost my sister Caitlin to cancer. During the second time she got cancer, my brother Kevin generously donated his bone marrow to try to save her life.
When I was three, my sister Cara was born but only lived for a few months due to breathing problems from her birth.
My parents also suffered the loss of two babies due to miscarriages. They’ve shared with me the pain of losing children and the even greater sorrow of losing children who never got a chance to live.
My parents also saved my life when I was five by rushing me to a hospital after my appendix burst, which led to sepsis.
THE DOTS CONNECTED
During this day, I thought about the pain of a child killed in an abortion and the trauma faced by women who have had abortions.
I also realized all the sacrifices my family members made were about saving lives and that everyone should have a fair chance at life.
FINISHING THE RACE
In that moment, I understood that the pain I was experiencing was temporary and insignificant compared to the pain my family endured and the suffering of families dealing with abortions and traumatic pregnancies.
Throughout the ride, I found strength in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
Despite the physical and emotional challenges, I chose to keep fighting each day. I found strength in weakness during the course of the week.
I knew God was calling me to do great things, and I was grateful for the opportunity to share my story and make a difference for women in need.
The week’s physical pain and fatigue were nothing compared to what mothers experience during unplanned pregnancies.
I was proud of myself for completing the physical journey and even prouder of the financial support I received from my community of friends and families.
In the end, I hope these funds will help another child gain a little brother or sister to love.
If you want to read more stories of inspiration like Conor’s, visit our missionaries’ profiles. Your support will form more young adults like Conor and help break through the $2M milestone of money given to pregnancy resource centers since we began in 2009.
