choose your own adventure

My dad’s birthday was in March and so knowing, or at least believing that my dad is not a big material gift person, my brother and I gave him a "choose your own adventure" gift. His options were a three day canoeing, backpacking, or biking trip. This was a great gift to give since all three sounded like something I would like to do, but we were pretty sure it would also be received well.

My dad picked biking and that made me a little nervous. You see, growing up I was never really into the sports my dad was. He was a runner and biker and my mental connotation for both those activities was pain and who likes that? Well for starters, my dad and brother, but not so much me. But somewhere in the past few years I have changed and have grown to love both biking and running, at least most of the time (see last post).

We had originally planned to bike from Madison (home to me and Joel) to Eau Claire where my parents live but as the time drew near we became more realistic and shortened the route to go from Lyndon Station to Eau Claire over 3 days, 2 nights. It was a fantastic trip.

Here I am as we are about to get started.


We put about 180 miles on our bikes over those three days as we traveled through a beautiful part of the state. I came to appreciate what great county roads our state has and learned, or at least was told, that our roads are of such high quality to better aid farmers transport their products. Go dairy state. Our trip was a good combination of flats and butting kicking hills. We passed miles upon miles of farm country that was only broken up my occasional small towns with their four churches and five bars and one small coffee shop.

Here are a couple shots of the countryside. The second one is after a bigger than average hill ... I learned to love my granny gear.


This is the four room hotel we stayed at on our first night. You gotta love small towns where you have to stop by the owners home to pick up the key.


This was a great way to spend time with my dad and I was reminded how lucky I am. I am lucky to have a father who is willing to take time to spend with his kids and always has since we were little. Thanks dad and happy father’s day (a little late) .

the day i wanted to die

I have been sitting here doing homework for the past couple of hours and I feel the need for a break and an updated blog. I have been meaning to write more as the last few weeks have been full of activity that makes for good blogging but alas I am lazy. So this entry takes me back nearly a month to the Madison marathon at the end of May.

My brother and I started to train together back in February or early March and committed to each other that we would at least do our long run together each week. We started at about 6 miles and worked out way up to 20 about a month before the race. It was a great experience training with him. I loved the chance to spend so much time together as we discussed every possible topic we could come up with to best pass the time and not think about the fact that we were running for hours on end. It is a funny thing for two average guys to try and come up with topics of conversation for so many hours when our word quota for the day runs out in about the first 45 minutes.

After months of training and me reminding Joel again and again not to run one step in front of me, the day of the race arrived. And thus began several of the most humbling hours of my life. Over the past few months Joel and I had been able to push each other fairly well as we had done our runs in fairly good weather that was at its worst pretty cold in the early stages. But the morning of May 28th was something new, it was 75 degrees at 7 am and would reach highs of low 90s. I am not sure exactly when I knew I was in trouble but I would say it was about mile 2. I was already sweating like crazy and wanted to escape the sun. Joel and I had planned to run together until at least the last couple of miles where I imagined he would take off and I would plod my way to the finish line. Instead we made it together to mile 13 where Joel was trying to be the encourager and keep conversation going but the only response he got from me was to shut up and stop asking so many questions.

It was right about there that my body started its’ rebellion. I have never felt such pain in my legs or had my brain will one thing and my body demand something counter to it and so it was a new experience when my muscles started to cramp and I was slowed to a stumble. The humbling experience was highlighted by seeing five people placed into ambulances and being asked twice by medical support along the way if I needed help.

In the end I did finish but sadly it was not with my brother who had been done for nearly an hour, and it was not even close to the time I had hoped for. Now that it is past I am glad for the chance to experience something so humbling and be reminded that my body, no matter how much I want something, is weak and has its limits. It has also helped me to remember how important training is for any goal that I may want to achieve. I’m sure this will make for a good illustration some day for a talk.

ode to the bw

Since last blogging a lot has happened or at least I have had the chance to cram in several ‘adventures’ between the end of school and the beginning of summer ministry events. The ability for flexibility is one of my favorite things about the job I have. I love that things are always changing and that like the students’ school schedule, my year changes every fall and spring with a gap for vacation built in.

That is why a few weeks ago right after a 5th grade retreat and a wedding; I hopped in a car with a couple great friends and headed to Eau Claire to prepare for a week in the Boundary Waters. I have been able to make this trip seven out of the last eight years (is that right Jared?) and I love it. I have yet to find a better place on earth where I experience rest and peace like I do in far northern Minnesota.

I have often wondered and conversed with others why we love the BW so much and here are some of the reasons that this place is a little slice of heaven on earth.

1. The solitude is food for the soul. We are never really alone as I always go in groups of 4-6 but we can go days without seeing another person so there is a feeling of our group being the only people out there. Maybe this is the introvert in me but I love the break from all people except the few that I am with.

2. There is something powerful about being in a place that changes at a different rate than the rest of the world around it. We talked about how no matter what happened in the news while we were gone this place does not care. Thanks to the safe keeping of the state of Minnesota this area is largely untouched and unchanged and for me that is a healthy reminder to how important the decisions I make every day really are. Not very.

3. There are no emails, internet, phone calls or meetings in the BW. Enough said.

4. There is a predictable pattern to each day and it is a simple one. The list of activities mainly include paddling, setting up camp, breaking down camp, preparing food, eating that food and cleaning up the food, portaging and occasional fishing and swimming. That is it. It has just a hint of survival mode and is restful to my brain this is all too often multitasking. The biggest choice each day is usually what dinner to eat that night.

5. Time with people I like. The BW brings out great discussions and I have had some of the best up there. Discussions have ranged from philosophy of esthetics to the last time we took a dump (things change a bit when women have come) and can go from one to the other in a matter of seconds.

6. Finally (and there are most likely more but this is starting to get too long) is the chance to submerse myself in creation nearly free from the effects of people. Nowhere else do I have the chance to see fish spawning, moose appear at the edge of the lake, loons dive for food only feet from our campsite or eagles perch in nearby trees. Nor do I have the chance to silently stare out at emerald green hillsides and watch the effects of the wind along the surface of the lake. All the sounds, smells and sights of nature help to put my soul and rest and remind me that I am very small and fragile and that my worries and stresses really are not that big of a deal.

So there is my ode to the BW but now I am back and already much has happened but that is for another entry for another day. For at least this moment I am thankful for the chance to reflect on the time I had with great friends in the far north.