Why We Are Out Here

by Jenny Zeroun

My name is Jenny and I am a whole way rider this year, only 2 days away from finishing this coast to coast journey with 31 of my most closest friends.

Today we rode from Yakima, WA to Packwood, WA over White Pass at 4,500 feet elevation. The ride started out with headwinds for about the first 20 miles and then took us up highway 12 to Rim Rock Lake where we had a rest stop before the pass. The views made the incline so enjoyable and passed the time quickly as we rode in awe of the mountains, the water, and the green that is Western Washington.

There were several waterfalls including Clear Lake falls and we eventually summited White Pass where there was a ski resort area and a convenience store. While in the store Lindsey found through hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail and ran outside to grab Leah (who hiked the Appalachian trail) and Greg and I followed her in. It was so amazing to hear of their journey hiking for 5 months already from Mexico to Canada and see a few of the sights they’ve seen. As we were explaining what our group has been doing I found myself saying things like "we have it easy, we don’t even have to carry our belongings" or "we get hot showers every night, not really hardcore like you guys." The through hikers were pretty hardcore but all the people I see around me on this trip are too: mentally, spiritually and physically. Day in and day out we are becoming aware of the huge problem of poverty housing in the US and internationally. We meet with families just like my own in need of a partner, in need of community to help them find, renovate, or create affordable housing.

After we left the store, we had 20ish miles downhill where we turned one corner and had Mt. Rainer framed perfectly peeking above the clouds surrounded by green trees. When we arrived at our host church for tonight we couldn’t stop gabbing about the downhill and the gratitude we all had for the dramatic views and newly paved roads.

More important than a super exhilarating bike ride today or the 20 jokes about butts, is the purpose of why we are out here–it’s not to rough it or go without–it’s to spread awareness, live simply, and encourage each other to be the best versions of ourselves. God wants us to be so excellent to each other and humble ourselves to the point that only His love comes across in all that we do.

Millard fuller wrote
    “For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people’s love and concern for each other.”
    "The mark of a truly great society is one that takes care of the least."
    "I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help His people in need."

Our actions speak louder than my fumbling words or my bad vocabulary. Every day I’ll try again and we are all working daily on becoming better, hopeful, hardworking servants through our awareness and readiness to work.

"So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective." Colossians 3:1-2