What got me to sign up?

On Wednesday (Dec 12) I officially registered to become a participant on the Sea to Sea bike tour. (To see what that is all about check out the website: www.seatosea.org). The night before Council allowed me the time off so that I can do the whole thing--all 6250 kilometers! It's exciting, as well as overwhelming. Can I really do this? I'm sure that during the period of training, as well as the actual bike ride, I will ask that question over and over again. Can I really do this? Only with God's help.

In this posting, I'd like to begin to answer the question: What got me to sign up? After all, I'm not very athletic. I don't run. I don't play hockey. I don't even bike much--in fact, the lock on my present bike is rusted so much the key won't work in it. So how can I think about biking 6250 kilometers?

Well, it began with this thought: We have had someone connected to our church in the previous two bike tours, so I'd thought it would be good if someone from our church would go this time as well. In a congregational prayer, I asked God: Who are you raising up in this church to go this time? As I pondered who it might be, I thought that maybe it could be me.

In addition, the idea of taking a month off from work had already been posed to Council. As the congregation knows, I do like to travel. Perhaps I could take my new trailer on the road. But then the Sea to Sea came to mind. If I was granted some extra time, should I not use it for a worthy cause, like "cycling to end poverty"? In my extensive travels, I have seen the reality of poverty, from Haiti to Zambia. So here was a trip with a purpose: To help in one small way to overcome poverty.

And so I am signed up. Do I know what I am getting myself into? Not really. It is a leap of faith. While each day I know that I depend upon the Lord, undertaking this project will make that dependence very obvious. I look to him to guide me through.

ps. I also need your support. Please pray for all the participants in the tour. It is a fundraiser. I have to raise $10,000 for the cause. If you would like to support me, the easiest way is online. Go to the website mentioned above; go to the Donate button; click and find my name (John Noordhof). Other means of donating will be detailed in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you for your interest in this cause.