Looking ahead after the longest day

(A post or two about our time in Americus will hopefully appear as soon as those parties to whom the duty was assigned checks the blog schedule and gets their respective rears in gear. Ahem - cough.)

As for today, I drove the SAG wagon. Twelve members of the team rode bicycles. The Merchants stayed back in Americus to continue painting a Fuller Center house and even raised more money. (Oyee!) Total distance out of Americus: 109 miles. The End.

Well, not quite the end, especially if tonight's south-Georgia Chinese food doesn't sit well. I unfortunately can't say much for what it was like to get back on the saddle after our longest break to hammer out the longest single day of riding. (On top of that, we're all a bit sore from water skiing with Millard Fuller. Life is rough.) From where I sat - the driver's seat of a car - the team looked strong. Besides, it's only a wet heat. And, everyone was spoiled at mile 60 when Mary (Tony's wife) pulled up in the motor home and provided AC, water and a real bathroom. I think she still doesn't believe that much of this trip was devoid of material luxuries.

Which brings me to something I've been thinking about since Montgomery, AL. We attended a black Catholic church service that was the opening of a conference for black church leaders. I think the congregation expected the 40 year anniversary to be a congratulatory celebration. But the priest who gave the sermon quickly challenged the group, which had chosen the saying “No trouble at the water” for the week’s slogan.

“What do you mean, no trouble at the water?” he shouted. What changes if there is no trouble to be dealt with, he asked. What gets accomplished if there is no trouble to be overcome?

When goals are accomplished, we run the risk of losing sight of the original mission. We run the risk of becoming complacent and self-congratulatory. The priest set forth a challenge - to rise above the contentment of success and to work like there’s as much to be done as there was when the organization began.

I thought it was fitting that Rhonda (one of our newest riders) said to me tonight that she believes we live in a time when everyone's afraid of their situation. Sometimes, she thinks, the best thing to do is to go out and give part of yourself anyway. It helps you let go of your fears.

It will be a challenge for all of us riders to continue the work of the Fuller Center when we leave the bike trip and return to the accelerated pace of "normal" life. It's not just spreading the word about a housing ministry and swinging a hammer once in a while that we will be charged with remembering to do. We must strive to live the life that the Fuller Center's mission exemplifies and calls for: We must take care of our brothers and sisters in all realms of life. 

If I can recall my college philosophy class correctly, Plato and Aristotle both wrote that true happiness is achieved only when you can serve others without any desire to receive something in return. That even includes satisfaction. It is our duty to help others, and when we get wrapped up in our crowded, material worlds and our petty disagreements, it can be so easy to forget our simple charge to love one another. 

- Katherine

[ Because those posts haven't been written yet, I must say that we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Millard and Linda Fuller, Kirk and his family and all of the Fuller Center Americus staff for their hospitality, food, fun and inspiring moments this weekend. We hope to make you all proud! ]