FIRST BLOG POST!!!

Well…here goes!  My first real blog post.

I didn’t want to have a blog.  I’m a bit of an internet chicken!  I like to lurk on forums and blogs, reading other people’s opinions while keeping mine safely in my head.  I’m afraid of being judged.  I’m afraid of misrepresenting my opinion.  I’m afraid that I will be seen as arrogant or as though I think my opinions are the only ones worth reading.  So why would I make a blog, then?

Next summer, I will be taking 9 weeks to ride my bicycle on the Sea to Sea tour from Los Angeles, California to New York City, a distance of over 6000km, to raise money and awareness for anti-poverty initiatives of three organizations: World Renew (http://www.worldrenew.net/), Partners Worldwide (http://www.partnersworldwide.org/), and the Reformed Church in America (https://www.rca.org/).  I have committed to riding at least 4000 km in preparation for the tour, for a total goal of riding 10,000km by next Labour Day

(as a side note, I will be raising $10,000 for the above charities...see the website for more info: http://www.seatosea.org/ and my donation page: http://www.seatosea.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1039785&lis=1&kntae1039785=AF93A674D0E549FAB5FE9C3B64CF40C1&supId=365932844)

.  As part of this tour, I have committed not only a physical training program, but to use these next months to also gain a better understanding of the global issue of material poverty.  If I write a blog every month, then I can’t skip out on educating myself, because I don’t want to look like an idiot (see above…)!  I think this post is a good place to introduce my views and ask for help on this journey over the next year!

First of all, I think it’s important to start with the introduction that I am a Christian, and so my perspectives generally stem from this world view (for the basics of what I mean when I say “Christian”, I like this summary from The Meeting House church in Oakville: http://www.themeetinghouse.com/who-we-are/about-us/our-message/).  I think it would be difficult to write about issues of poverty in the world without referencing my views on God, evil, the world etc, particularly when the issue of poverty often intersects with these issues in the form of questions of suffering in the world, human nature and our purpose.  So, this is your spoiler alert:  if you never want to see God referenced…don’t read any further!

Secondly, it is very important to me that I be clear that I am not an expert on any of these issues.   I am trying to learn and explore and hope that if you are reading this, you will journey with me, guide me, and help me!  So, here’s my first request:  What resources should I be reading this year?  I am interested in hearing what my very intelligent friends are reading and recommend.  My own personal loves are the classic “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” by Friere, which I intend to re-read this year, and “An Imperfect Offering” by James Orbinski (a birthday gift quite a few years ago from my dear friends Kat and Sarah and a great perspective on international aid).

Thanks for reading!

My chariot for the next 10,000km!

Bike update:

I’ve ridden 598kms so far!  Slightly less than I had intended so far, but I had a teeny unfortunate crash last week, that both took my bike and I out of commission (my bike with a broken derailleur hanger and bent derailleur and me with a teeny concussion).  It was a very frustrating week as the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having in Alberta kept calling me back to the road.  I got the derailleur fixed yesterday and went for a quick 20km ride – AMAZING!  It felt so good to be back on the road!  Having a (very minor) bonk on the noggin was a good reminder to me to be constantly thankful for my health and ability to ride: many people have things taken away in shorter moments than my bike crash and I’m grateful for my health up to this point!