I didn’t cycle the 109km Argus Cycle Tour this past weekend.
Not cycling a race doesn’t sound like the kind of announcement one makes, right? But in this case, it has specific significance.
Firstly, the Argus Cycle tour is a race I have cycled successfully 16 times already. [Although to be fair the last successful ride was probably six or seven years ago due to being away and various other factors]. But this year I don’t think I was fit enough to finish it. The only reason I entered was cos my best friend Duncan REALLY wanted me to do it with him and so he somehow managed to talk me into it.
There were a group of six of us who were going to be riding together. And given my history of crazy dress up for the race as a way to help mobilise crowd support we had some fun clothes [stockings and tutus and a stuffed animal stuck to our helmet] planned for the big day.
We had started training a little later than normal and so I only managed two 32km cycles in the weeks leading up the race as well as some shorter saddle-time rides by myself.
LEADING UP TO THE RACE
Leading up to the race I was really nervous about the 109km and the only thing that was likely to help me finish it was the crew of cyclists who were riding with me. So after doing the two warmup rides my confidence levels had risen to ‘Maybe I will finish this thing after all.’
The day before the race we got sent a message saying that they were expecting severe winds and if people weren’t feeling fit they should consider pulling out. Needless to say this was not a huge boost to my confidence. Huge winds plus not great fitness meant it was really going to be tough.
There were also some fires that had taken place along certain areas of the route and a protest was planned at one of those locations and so we then got a message that the route had been changed and we were now going to be doing just 78km of race. Suddenly I started to believe I could do it.
DAY OF THE RACE
On the morning of the race I was feeling confident. With these friends at my side I could definitely make it through 78km. We had already done 64km together so this was only another 14km right?
But then as we cycled towards the beginning of the race we got the message that the whole race, due to extreme weather conditions had been cancelled. Bitterly disappointed we ended up at the one friend’s house and decided to breakfast together instead.
So a bit of a back and forth story, but the one consistent part of the story was friendship or community. By myself I never believed I had enough in me to finish the race. But with the others by myself, even with the strongest winds against us, I figured there was some chance.
WHEN COMMUNITY SHOWS UP
The fires I spoke about destroyed a lot of homes in a poor community and somewhere between 1500 and 3000 people were deeply affected by this. And as devastating as that was, it was impressive to start to see signs of community kicking in.
The supermarket chain sponsoring the cycle race donated all of the food and drinks to the community. Withing hours there were various calls on social media for people to donate food and clothes and money. Volunteers and pick up points and churches and other non-profits were mobilised and a lot of effort was being poured into this community.
I just heard as I was writing this that something like R600 000 had been raised specifically for school packs for the children in the community [different groups are responsible for different areas of need].
By ourselves we can not do all that much of significance, but together the opportunities are endless.
SMALL AND BIG SCALE
Many people have mixed feelings about social media, but for me the one place where I have seen it be the most effective is where there is a need. Social media used well can be a great way to connect people with needs and find the resources needed to fulfil those needs.
These are just two stories – one on a very personal level and one on a more grander scale – of how having the right people around you can be significant in seeing the improbable or the seemingly impossible be brought to life.
As a follower of Jesus I have found that the church [the people of God] is the best community to be connected to on a number of levels – physically, spiritually, emotionally, economically, opportunitywise and so on.
Two helpful questions as we seek to be part of meaningful communities are these:
# Who are the people that have my back? Who are those who will help you defy the odds when facing a personal battle or obstacle to overcome like my amazing cyclist friends.
# Who am I being authentic community to/with? Who are the people, families and organisations that I am walking with, contributing to, encouraging and supporting in different ways?