Bikes and Family

"I want a bike." I hear that every once in a while when I tell people about all the adventures I have as I ride around Jackson on my single gear Motobecane.
A few months ago, I was able to visit my family north of Lansing where I grew up, and shared with my family how much I enjoy riding and told stories of my interactions with people in the community as I ride through town. My Mom sighed as she stared towards the ceiling, "I want a bike."
She has pretty much always loved riding bikes, but for some reason, she hadn't had a bike for quite some time. I figured that I could probably work something out. I talked with Corey at the Armory Bike Union in Jackson, and told him that I planned to fix up a bike for my mom for her birthday at the beginning of October. He said that it was fine and since I had been a semi regular volunteer, I was able to use whatever I needed to fix up a beautiful blue five speed Schwinn. It took a few weeks of cleaning, greasing, true-ing, and adjusting, but after it was all done, it turned out to be a pretty awesome bike. One I was happy to present to my Mom for her birthday. She was pretty excited. She immediately wanted to take it out for a ride even though it was already after dark and rode around for quite a while. The next week my Dad texted me and told me that he saw her out riding about four miles from the house. She's having adventures of her own now.

This past weekend, two of my younger brothers were able to spend a couple days with me in the "Prison City". I talked to Corey again and asked if I could borrow a couple of bikes for them to ride around Jackson with me. My brothers each picked out a bike and spent the next several hours riding around town and visiting some of the local treasures. Together, we had a total blast riding around town and simply just hanging out. Saturday, we rode back to the Armory Bike Union and I showed them around the shop and together we worked on repairing a children's bike.
I'm realizing that bike culture, at least in Jackson, doesn't have to exclusively revolve around bicycles. Instead, bike culture is all about people and connecting with them through not just the bikes themselves, but riding them, repairing them, and connecting with each other around them. I'm extremely grateful to the ABU for what they're doing in Jackson, and for generously giving my family and myself adventures that we can share with each other.

On Two Wheels

Pretty much everywhere I go in Jackson, I take a bike there. It adds quite a different dynamic to life. Wherever I'm going I'm learning to plan out the trip, choose the route I'm going to take, and plan for other emergencies (i.e. cars) that aren't very aware that I'm there.

When I get there, I'm finding that I appreciate being there more. It's a huge excitement to me to arrive at my destinations, even if it's just a coffee run. Most of all, I'm loving the interactions I have with people as I'm riding through town. Most people that I run into (not literally of course) on the street simply love to talk. It cracks me up sometimes how conversations get started with random people. There's an older couple I met at Jackson Coffee Company who jokingly threatened to steal my bike and I see them every once in a while and I get to share with them more about God's peace.
I got to pray with this lady who is a greeter at Walmart after we were talking about how she has a bunch of fluid going into her thigh.

   I got hugged and jabbed in the ribs repeatedly by this homeless woman that I shared coffee with. She called me her "sugar daddy" and told me we were going to get married after she made me fried chicken. Later that same day I saw her again and this time, she was furious because she believed that someone stole her money that she was going to buy "cigarettes" with. I prayed with her and asked God to show her His peace.
   Peace, I prayed for. Most of the time, that's all I can think to pray for. Peace that transcends all our understanding. Peace that overwhelms us when our emotions take the controls. Peace that remains constant because of the blood that was shed to reconcile us.
   I don't think I'm there yet, but I'm learning to get the perspective that wherever I am, I am a minister of the gospel. If I believe in it's Truth, that just needs to be who I become. All other aspects of my life need to revolve around the fact that this is who Christ is making me into - His instrument to proclaim His message of reconciliation. For now, I'm trying to do that while I ride around on my two wheels in this concrete jungle, but one day I hope to be in some place that's too far away to ride a bike to, and share God's good news with people there.
I would love to share more with YOU about what other things are happening with me in Jackson. Once in a while, I write actual letters (like the ones on paper that come in the mail) and if you would like to correspond that way, email your address to me: codynolans@gmail.com
"The Lord bless you and keep you.. and give you peace." Numbers 6