ocean park, maine

Our directions for the final day of pedaling.

When I wrote these directions this morning, I did not know they would take us down the exact street to the beach at Ocean Park, Maine that we pedaled in 2009. There was a big difference however. In 2009, when we arrived at this same beach and this same place there were only four people on the beach, a family of four. And one of the four took our picture doing the traditional tire dip in the Atlantic. Today, the beach was very crowded. We took our bikes to the ocean's edge, met Michelle, and she graciously took our pictures. She even took one for herself as she heard our story, and said, "I can't wait to tell my husband what he missed." Michelle, thank you for your interest in our ride, your kindness, and your very encouraging attitude. 

The ride today was on very smooth shoulders along Maine routes 202 and 111. When you ride a bike on highway, smooth and wide shoulders make a huge difference. And we were blessed most of the day. I don't think we took very many pictures because of being so close to the finish. I guess we were like horses going to the barn. Good ride.

My Bible verses for this journey has been 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:17: 

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  (1 Corinthians 10:31)

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17) 

To come clean with you, I'm not really sure how to bring glory to God pedaling my bicycle. I do hope that, maybe, I've shared a little bit about Jesus in my blog and shared a little bit of his character with the people I've met. I've decided that the best way for me to end my blog about my cross-country journey would be to share my spiritual journey. It's been nothing short of incredible.

Growing up in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, a town of about 850 when I was a kid, was a journey in itself. I loved, and still, love that town. I walked to Shrewsbury Elementary School and rode the school bus to Susquehannock High School in nearby Glen Rock. As a kid, I knew there was a God. When you grow up in a farming area of the country, you just know all this stuff didn't just happen. Fields of corn and wheat, calves being born, chicks and ducks hatching? It doesn't take much to know that there is a Creator. These things just don't happen accidentally. My problem with God was I was afraid of him. Mom taught my brothers and me the bedtime prayer most kids then knew by memory:

"Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should . . . "  You know what word goes there, don't you? "If I should die before I wake. I pray the Lord my soul to take." That scared me so badly that I would try to stay awake all night, hopefully so I could keep from dying in my sleep.

A friend of mine who lived nearby in Shrewsbury, Marvin Hendrix, invited me to go to church with him on weekday night. I think it was a Thursday. I went because Marvin was my friend. At his church, a pastor had come to preach for a week. I didn't know who it was. Still don't. But I do remember that, as he preached, I thought my heart was going to explode. He gave an invitation and I thought I was going to die. After the invitation, Marvin said to me, "Barry, I never thought to ask you but are you a Christian?" I didn't even know what a Christian was. I just knew that some people in Shrewsbury went to church and some didn't. I was one of the ones who didn't. To me, church was kind of boring, except on Christmas and Easter when free candy and an orange were given to the kids. Back to Marvin's question, I knew I wasn't. After talking with Marvin's dad and the visiting preacher, I prayed and trusted Jesus as my Savior and Lord. I know something was different when I went home, went to bed, and as a teenage still prayed, "Now I lay me down to sleep . . ." I went right to sleep.

My journey as a new Christian was uneventful. Before, I didn't know what a Christian was. Now I didn't know what a Christian should do. I didn't know I should be reading my Bible, praying, attending a church where I could fellowship with other believers and could be taught how to grow in my faith. I didn't know anything!

While I was in the Air Force and stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, an airman who was part of the Navigators, a ministry focused on guys and gals in the military, stopped by my room in the dorm. He asked me about my faith and I told him how I came to faith in Jesus as a high school student. He told me that in order to grow in my faith I needed to be connected to a local church where I could grow and serve. I tried the base chapel but that really didn't work and I didn't connect.

Stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio, a captain invited me to his church and I went, immediately connected, was welcomed into the church family, started to get instruction from a pastor who preached God's Word, and began serving others in a Sunday School class of third graders. I also finally realized that I needed to follow Jesus in Believer's Baptism, which I did. Things started happening spiritually. I even met and married the Queen (Margaret) while I was there. Sarah and Carey, our daughters, came into the world at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hospital. Two more incredible blessings.

We moved to Cincinnati, Ohio so I could attend the University of Cincinnati. We started attending a nearby church in Fairfield and there, I felt like the Lord wanted me to serve as a pastor to the middle school and high school students there. That's what I did. I'm retired now but I still serve in my church in Georgia, Prince Avenue Baptist Church, where I now hang out with and minister to college students. (Really, I just harass them and they minister to me.) That's about it for the very short version of my spiritual journey to this point.

At our church we sing a song with these words, "All my life You have been faithful. All my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God."

From the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, I have been overwhelmed with the goodness of God. He's blessed me with his creation. He's blessed me with health and strength. He's placed people along my journey who were kind, caring, fun, and friendly. And he placed the people at just the right time every time. He's blessed me with a fifty-eight day revival, hanging out with me as I've pedaled. And, did I mention encouragement? I've received notes, cards, texts, phone calls, and face-to-face encouragement from everywhere! I've even been blessed by my pastor and church as I've watched and listened to the online service from my church. I'm constantly reminded that I miss two things from home: my family and my church. I'm super excited about finding my spot at church and hearing live music and preaching. 

The finish, today, was incredible. Tomorrow morning, I'll wake up, get up, and I won't pedal. This journey is over but I'll have memories for the rest of my life. I'm loving America more. I'm loving God's creation more. I'm loving people more. I'm loving God more. I'm ready for a new beginning, now. I'll love it as well. I've got some things in my mind and on my list. I'll see what happens.

All my life He has been faithful . . .