Biking Across North America

Purpose:  Riding for the Next Generation

Who:  Gary & Lisa Christopher with friends Craig & Dori Avery, and my brother and sister-in-love Alan & Sheryl Christopher

When: May 18-July 15, 2014 or thereabouts

Where:  Portsmouth, NH to Seattle, Washington along the Northern Tier of the US and Southern Tier of Ontario crossing through New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Washington (3400 miles).

How:  Gary, Alan and Craig riding the back roads on average 80 miles a day. Lisa, Sheryl and Dori driving the RV’s or pulling Travel Trailers and handling all the campground logistics. Let’s be clear,  without their incredible support this would not be possible.  Our intent together is to explore this vast country along the way from east to west the way it was settled:  our people, our history, the scenery and of course the cuisine. Bikers have to eat heartily!

Motivation: For Lisa and me this trip is more than about a bike ride across North America. In fact, I am not sure we would even start it if it were simply for the joy of biking. I can assure you a week or so in, my butt and my body will be wondering why on earth are we doing this?  Because we’re passionate about the Next Generation not just in the US, but around the world, and we are riding for what God will accomplish through them to make this a better world to live in. Our delight is about pouring into this generation in the vocation of their calling so they may live a fully integrated life, being the best they can be, where they live, work, and play.

Along the way, we will meet up with people from all walks of life; strangers, friends and family.  We expect to give gifts away. We have been so blessed with gifts over the years: spiritual, relationships, physical, intellectual, and financial.  As led, our heart’s desire is to give these gifts away during our journey: gifts of encouragement, exhortation, and prayer.

The Genesis: How did this all come about? The genesis occurred almost two years ago sitting in our family room at home in Inman Park.  I was having a chat with a friend in his 40’s who knew he needed to get in physical shape, but was at wit’s end about how to do it.  A coaching conversation ensued.  At one point I asked  if a big hairy audacious goal like riding across the country would get him back on the bike he used to love to ride in his youthful years.  At that his voice elevated a notch: “Now that would get me interested!”  Then out of my mouth flowed the challenge, “let’s do it!”  At the time, I was incredulous that my lips had mouthed those words, but as the next few days wore on, a desire to do this welled up within. You have to know that the extent of my biking experience heretofore was riding 5-10 miles around the neighborhood with  Lisa on hybrid bikes. Certainly nothing to prepare me for a long distance jaunt like this.  But as the spoken words became my dream I begin to realize how this could motivate me to get in better shape, but also serve a broader more important purpose.  Little did I know then that there would be other friends sign up for the real deal.  About a week or so after this dream germinated in my heart, I was on the phone with my friend from Lexington, Craig. In the midst of our conversation, he asked me what I was up to next. As I shared my latest idea about riding across the country, he responded in his Kentucky draw: “Christopher, you are crazy!” I laughed. A couple days later I got a text message from Craig that he had ridden 40+ miles on his bike that morning. Over the next several months it became clear that Craig had caught the bug. I guess birds of a feather do flock together.   Speaking of crazy, my younger brother Alan decided to join us on the journey. I am not exactly sure when he caught the bug, but he has it. I am glad that we get to journey together for that has been a desire of my heart.  Three of us will indeed be better than one.

After investing in getting in shape (sort of) with the help of “the best trainer in Atlanta” (a shout out to you Bobby Fournier), buying a serious road bike, and beginning to learn the ropes of road riding for dummies, I began to ponder the purpose of this ride.  Why?  Friends and clients naturally seemed to assume this was on my bucket list. Let me assure you, this was not a dream from my younger years nor was it on my bucket list. Sure, the words were spoken by me, yet I knew they weren’t mine.  So, one day in the shower about a year ago I am praying: “Lord, what is the purpose of this ride?”   The words “Next Generation” wafted through my mind. This really resonated with my heart and with Lisa’s.  Let me share why.  We both desire to pass on what we have seen and heard about Jesus in our walk in life to those who want to learn and teach others also. Further, I have been passionate these past several years in coaching and mentoring emerging leaders in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s within the A/E/C industry through our for-profit business,  Jholdas.  Nothing gives me more joy than to see men and women equipped in the vocation of their calling to have significant impact in their spheres of influence whether it be life to life, innovating new products, providing stellar client service or growing their business profitably. Through IMED, I have had the privilege of journeying with many co-laborers to help entrepreneurs in Nepal, Egypt, Jordan and Kyrgyzstan launch micro-enterprises with a Kingdom purpose to change life in their communities. Many of the hundreds of nationals I have been blessed to work with are the Next Generation. Finally, we have three sons and a daughter-in-love who are in their 20’s with a whole slew of their friends whom we love and think so much of.  We believe they are going to change the world for the better. Five of these 20-something guys have lived in our home this past year finishing their college careers and launching the next stage of their journey in life together as community. It looks and smells like family to Lisa and me. We love this Next Generation of family, friends, neighbors, our network in the A/E/C Industry, and the nations. We are riding for them, the blessing they have been given, and for the future that will be because of them.