Changing gears… cycling for Youth Ministry

I’ve included a number of posts lately about my own personal Cycling Retreat. The 150 miles embraced a wealth of experiences and enabled me to rejuvenate: emotionally, physically & spiritually. If you’d like to explore a short photo album from my trip, follow this link or click on this photo of riders who “joined [...]

A cyclist’s prayer answered!

The pinnacle of my Cycling Retreat was the quiet, prayerful time spent with Sister Jean Marie and Sister Donald at the Transfiguration Monastery in Windsor, N.Y. When I arrived at 1:00 on Friday afternoon, I was a bit worn from the 60 miles of pedaling that morning. A half-hour before I reached Transfiguration, I’d [...]

The rhythms of life

What does it really mean to set time aside? We do it all the time for the pursuits, interests and obligations we each have. Time to learn something new… time to participate in a sport or just watch a favorite television show… time to be with family and friends… time to work. Are these [...]

First Light in Downsville

Wet roads… a constant, distant drip of water. 4:27am I ease from the night’s sleep hearing unwelcome sounds. Does it mean another day on wet roads? Another flat? Turn over, push the thoughts away… attempt to recapture the peaceful slumber.
The birds! Don’t they know it’s 4:47 in the morning? Their [...]

5.4 Mile Warm-up… 5.4 Mile Finish

I’ve never been big on checklists. They spoil that sense of being “organic” about what you’re doing. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I keep lots of checklists–but most of them are in my head. And that’s probably one of the reasons I left my cell phone home as I began Day One of the Cycling [...]

Prayers answered… HIS way!

Ah, the power of prayer! For over a week, I’ve been praying for great weather as I start my “cycling retreat”. However, my wife has been praying for rain for the garden! Do you see the problem??
Well, apparently it was NO problem for God. After a picture-perfect, sunny day yesterday, he sent [...]

Planning, preparing & praying

Sometimes an idea can just pop into your head… but sometimes, a notion will work its way into your consciousness slowly, almost unnoticed. That’s how the “Cycling Retreat” was born. Actually, it embodies several ideas I’ve wanted to do for awhile now and in the process creates a hoped for experience that [...]

“..giving thanks always and for everything..”

We should be “filled with the Spirit, addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” [NAB, Ephesians 5:19-20] So writes St. Paul in his letter to [...]