It’s too big. I can’t do it. I can’t cope.
If you haven’t said it out loud, you’ve probably heard your internal voice whisper those words or something similar a number of times over the years. I know I have.
Is there something overwhelming waiting for you in 2021? Does it all seem too much?
We talk about having mountains to climb and I have a couple of giant mountains ahead of me this year. My biggest problem with climbing mountains is that I have a fear of heights. As well as the herculean task of climbing, I have to deal with all the doubts and fears along the way.
How did we get here?
While 2020 seemed to last for years, we’ve finally left it in the past and arrived on the shores of 2021. That’s scary because I can no longer put off the urgency of what I’ll be doing ths year by saying, ‘next year’.
This is where reality bites. In just 37 weeks I hope to begin cycling right across Australia. I am currently in no shape to take on such a challenge.
Ride for Compassion Coast to Coast will start on Saturday the 18th of September. Together with around 30 other cyclists I’ll arrive at Compassion’s head office in Newcastle, NSW on Wednesday the 20th of October, having cycled over 4,200 km. There’ll be 28 riding days and 5 rest days. The average riding distance for those riding days will be just over 150 km. Our longest days will be just under 200 km.
I have quite some experience with the ride aspect of the trip having cycled across Australia six times previously but fond memories won’t get me there.
I’ve continued to age since my last crossing and I know that the distances will feel longer. The training will be harder. The aches will last longer.
This year’s ride is a huge mountain.
So, what’s getting me back on my bike if it’s really that hard?
That’s the other mountain.
For just over seven years I’ve been working for Compassion Australia, a Christian international holistic child development organisation.
I’ve visited Compassion’s work in 7 of the 25 developing countries we serve and I’ve met hundreds of children and their families who are being released from poverty in Jesus’ name.
The task of turning the tide on global poverty has been hard enough, but the current pandemic is estimated to push around 150 million more people into extreme poverty. There is an urgent need to raise and direct funds to those who have been most affected. A colossal mountain.
Time to start climbing.
It’s the start of 2021. We’re at base camp. Time to begin the climb … the arduous, at times seemingly impossible, climb.
I’ll begin by reminding myself that I’ve cycled those distances before and that despite my ageing body, for the sake of the most vulnerable, children living in poverty, I can do it again. It’ll take a lot of training and persistence but I can reach that peak.
Of course, all that work will be wasted if it doesn’t produce resources to help those in most need.
Hand me the harness.
I won’t ask you to join me on a bike but I do need your help to overcome these challenges.
Your encouragement as I train is vital. There’ll be days when it’ll be ‘too windy’, ‘too hot’, ‘too wet’ to train. On those days it’ll be easier to stay in bed so I’ll need your encouragement to keep me motivated.
I’ll also need you to donate whatever you can to help me reach my $25,000 target. I don’t know how I’ll get there without you.
You can sponsor a child living in poverty or make a straight donation.
Sponsorship gives kids safe places to play, the chance to see a doctor when they’re sick, education, and the opportunity to discover Jesus’ incredible love for them.
A donation will be put to immediate use in helping those affected by the pandemic.
Will you help me climb a couple of mountains this year by giving more children a chance to live, dream and hope? Sponsor a child today or donate now through my fundraising page.
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