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 Joe, a second-year missionary rider.
I’ve heard it said that the Biking for Babies National Ride is a week-long Examination of Conscience with a little penance mixed in. Riding 600 miles with little sleep with people you met just days prior can often show the places in your soul where Christ still has some work to do. Coincidentally, the National Ride also provides opportunities for Christ to work and heal you. All you have to do is let Christ in and remember “Thy Will Be Done.” It seems so easy and simple; anyone can do it, right?
Not quite…
There’s suffering, a lot of suffering involved. Of course, there’s suffering involved, but it is not all just muscle cramps and the dreaded “chaffing.”
What surprised me was the amount of mental suffering. There were many times when I just wanted to throw in the metaphorical towel and –slowly– get off my bike and into Morris, our “air-conditioned” support van.
Two thoughts kept me on the bike and in the scorching heat of the Midwest summer. The first is why I was riding 600 miles. I am riding for the mothers in crisis pregnancy and what I was asking them to do, to choose life. The second is thought of Christ on the Cross and what He is asking me to do. He wants to take up our own crosses and carry them.
With these thoughts on my mind and my heart, they made my muscle less sore, the chaffing not as bad, and my attitude a little more joyful than it should be.
Surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, when we put others before ourselves and Christ as our center and our strength, we carry our cross joyfully and keep on biking when our legs are sore and we are ready to quit. When we unite our suffering with Christ; we are never alone.
For me, especially during the National Ride, that [awareness] made things a little complicated. I always had a deep desire for independence. If I fell, I wanted to get up by myself. If I got dropped, I wanted to make it back to the paceline by myself. I learned, very quickly and very concretely, something I heard in my studies in university: we are called to be Christ to others and let others be Christ to us.
These two clauses in a short little sentence can be seen as the summary of the true Christian Life, which calls the individual to give oneself totally and completely to another, “to love God and to love one’s neighbor as oneself.” We can’t however, expect our love to be perfect. In turn, we have to accept our failings in the light of Christ. We have to allow our burdens to be carried by Christ. We have to be dependent on Christ.
I’ve heard it said the National Ride is witness to the Gospel of Life. It’s powerful to see 80 plus missionaries and all of their mission partners supporting and showing the light of Christ.
The National Ride shows our culture of death and destruction where and how Christ can work in our lives. It gives women across the country hope that they aren’t alone; a hope that is not found in our will but in His Will.
If you want to read more stories of inspiration like Joe’s, visit our missionaries’ profiles. You can also support their fundraising efforts there as well! Help us reach $450K given to pregnancy center partners this year, by September 15.
