Total Raised: $7995 www.cycleofservice.arm-al.org or text “Give” to 334-459-9366
The last day is the hardest but the finish is within reach. Every cliché imaginable kicks in; I think I can, light at the end of tunnel, etc. By now, your legs feel like all the muscle has been removed and liquid lead has been pumped into them. To flex your quads intending to stretch results in waves of aches and soreness. And then there is that seat you sit in. I’ll just not go there. But if you can imagine. A different level of fatigue sets in. Sometimes you feel sleepy other times it just is this feeling of a depleted energy that only a Rip Van Winkle type of sleep might settle and replenish. Your thirst is unquenchable.
But, at the end of the day it is all good and it feels good. It does not feel good physically at all except that the pain and discomfort is a reminder of how much you have stretched (or not 😊) yourself. Stretched into a deeper goal, a deeper urgency, a deeper faith. Mentally and emotionally, wow…that is where the good feelings come from. We are driven by such a deep purpose of serving Christ by serving our neighbor. Despite the discomfort, our ride will result in comfort to others and that makes the difference.
As I close out this post, I again give a shout out to our cyclists. Being the only girl rider this time, I felt like I was with my older or bigger brothers. They looked out after me; they filled my water bottles, pumped my tires, oiled my chain, and rode alongside me. They even dealt with my moments of snappiness which seemed a bit more prevalent this year. Encouragement, even if couched in a slight quip, was always present. I am grateful to these brothers and how much they do for me and for ARM.
Then there was my mom, Denise Merrill, who once again drove up to be a support driver and keep us safe on the road. I cherish these special moments of getting to be with her. She serves me and she serves others during our journey. What an incredible testament and unique ways we get to honor each other.
Finally, we could not do this without the donors, rest stop supporters, and our church hosts. Many thanks to the corporate sponsors who gave so much!
So, here are a few kudos:
Corporate Sponsors: Sabel Steel, Jimmy’s Car Stereo, Quail Hollow Gardens, Hall’s Wholesale Flowers, Auburn Dermatology, NatureMade Vitamins, and Moore’s Mill Dentistry.
These churches were a huge help: Auburn UMC for the truck and trailer to pull our gear, York Mennonite Church, Livingston UMC, Marion UMC, Memorial UMC, Selma, Aldersgate UMC, Seale UMC, Trinity UMC Phenix City and Epworth UMC in Phenix City. The 122nd Troops Support Command in Selma continues to open their doors as a shower facility-which I am sure many would appreciate!
What are these funds used for? They will provide the construction resources as we continue making homes warm, safe, dry and beautiful. Families in Lee County needing repairs after the tornado will be part of this effort. We live to love. We are made for more! “A chord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes.
Grace and peace!