Spokes in Spokane

More biking adventures.

Sunday was the first annual Spokefest, a bike ride geared (pun!) towards non-bike enthusiasts. The participation fee $7.50 (!) included a pancake breakfast, the ride, aid, all the fig newtons you could eat, and a t-shirt. I think the cup of coffee alone was worth $7.50 at 7:00am, but getting a free bike tune-up was priceless. Okay, so maybe the mechanic said my bike needed about $60 worth of work. Pssh.

The ride went along the river to Riverside State Park. It was really a beautiful day. Low 70s, sun shining (not that it doesn't ever shine in Spokane; I think I've yet to see an overcast day). The course wasn't too hilly, but a decent 21 mile workout. Kelly, John, and I came in with the stragglers after spending a good half hour listening to a bluegrass band at one of the last aid stations, while looking out over the Spokane River. Twas wonderful!

Work, admittedly, is less than exciting, but that is balanced by the wonderful community I've found in Spokane. My house is incredibly supportive, which makes it all worthwhile.

So the other night, Alyssa lead spirituality night and asked us to reflect on "what is love?" This was my answer, which I shared with the house and they seemed to like it:

One hundred hands hugs given, thirty-seven hands held. Wiping noses - is this love? Love is patient, love is kind -- I am not. I know what love does: it rewrites the social order, sees as God sees, heals wounds, gives hope. I do not know what love is, but I know that it is that which makes life worthwhile. Love is free, and love is good. Love is holy and pure and true. God is love, and he lets us love. And we love imprefectly and impurely and we screw it up. But we are not asked to stop, we are only asked to love again.