As I travel from town to town, I often get asked the same gamut of questions, in this exact order:
1) Are you insane? (I don’t think so)
2) Aren’t you worried someone’s going to attack you in the woods? (No)
3) How many miles do you do a day? (Around 80)
4) What have you learned?
I have a lot of trouble with the last question. On this blog, I’ve put a lot of what I learned, but the vast majority is fact, not subjective tidbits of enlightenment. It’s not that I haven’t been finding what I’m looking for, as I normally have. It’s that I don’t know if I have the ability to process it anymore.
I’m in Madison, Wis. now with my best friends. I’ve been here three days, and will be here two more. It feels like an eternity – I haven’t been somewhere for more than three days this entire trip. But if ever, now is the time to reflect.
Everyone wants to know how I perceive different faiths, but rather than going into deep explanations, where I always contradict myself and change my mind, I’ll do some word association. I’m going to list faiths, and the first words that come to mind.
Mormon – bright, excited, chatty
Quaker – solid, passive, pensive
Shaker – tired, bending, lonely
Hasidic – tiring, tireless, talkative
Methodist – simple, musical, advertising
Shambhala – liberal, free-spirited, dreamy
Lutheran – sweet, hurried, helpful
Nation of Islam – hidden, angry, hurt
Catholic – devout, productive, proud
Zen – quiet, self-controlled, inviting
Don’t read too much into these.
Maybe I’ll make a list of harder truths:
1) Western Massachusetts is the hardest place to bike, ever.
2) Wisconsin is hotter than it should be.
3) There are too many highway grave markers for people killed in drunk driving accidents.
4) Never trust Google Maps wholeheartedly. They put things in the wrong places. Don’t trust The Weather Channel, either.
5) Never ask only one person for directions, as they’re often wrong.
6) Take more spare tubes than you think you need.
7) Take less clothing than you think you need.
8) Don’t just ask those in charge what they think, everyday people have more nuanced and interesting views.
9) Never doubt how much people will go out of their way to help you.
10) That is, unless they are pickup trucks that try to run you off the road.
11) You may get scared in the dark woods at night, but you will always wake up fine in the morning.
12) A grassy field and a sleeping bag can be more comfortable than a motel bed.
13) If you bike through the rain, you’ll get out of it quicker.
14) Bug spray will end up getting in your mouth and eyes when you sweat.
15) Eat when you can. There’s not always a restaurant ahead when you think there will be.
16) If some people won’t see beyond their noses, it does no good to show them the light.
17) Some people can’t talk about the good aspects of their faith without badmouthing other faiths. This is a sign of unattended questioning and worry.
18) People often forget that they’re part of humanity when they get behind the driver’s seat.
19) You can learn the most about a person by what they ask about you. People ask you about what’s important to them so they can feel you out.
20) Some people will give you light, and some will take it away. But no matter how much they take, there’s always more to give, so don’t be stingy.
