It has to end (and maybe something about 100+ miles)

I'm really tired, so you'll have to forgive me if I leave things out.

We had to face something this morning that we haven't particularly wanted to face: the end of the trip in less than two weeks. Call me a sentimental fool (or just a fool), but I've grown to love the bikers and feel some dread at how difficult it will be to leave them and our adventure and assimilate back into the real world. 

Tony's devotion this morning shed some light on the end of that tunnel. He referred back to the sermon we heard yesterday, during which the pastor spoke about the mustard seed parable. The pastor mentioned a few other Methodist churches that had failed in the area over the years, and blamed their disbanding on an inward focus that created a mutual appreciation society and spent no time ministering to those outside the congregations. He said that faiths grow and good works spread when individuals reach outward, expanding beyond their comfort zones. Good works don't have to be major, (small things, like mustard seeds, can spread just as fruitfully) but those works have to be done.

Like those mustard seeds (or Kudzu, which they are familiar with here in the South), the nine of us who have been together for so many weeks will soon have to step outside of our comfort zones, outside of our tight, little community that takes care of its members, and spread the message and works of the Fuller Center for Housing. We will disband to our respective states and hopefully be able to do just as much as - or more than - we were able to accomplish as a team. We must pull apart our biking community to grow the Fuller Center community. It has to end.

As for the ride today, there are some things we're very glad to see end. The map said 102 miles. The longest distance today was 107.09, registered by Aaron's trip computer and was thanks to a small navigation error made possible by a slightly confusing map. One hundred and seven was probably also today's temperature and the percent humidity. The team looked rather dead upon arrival at the church, but thankfully appearances can be deceiving.

Tony picked up another donation after mass tonight. New fundraising plan: Send Tony to Catholic churches. He always comes back with $100. Oyee!