10/01/2019
From a brother of mine in Ohio.
James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” I love that Bible verse and I want to encourage you to NEVER give up on your dreams. There was a defining moment on the morning of July 9, 2018 that has helped shape my outlook on life. The previous two days, Bill Bartram and I had ridden our adventure motorcycles 550 miles over a dirt/gravel road through the Tombstone Mountains and Boreal Forest. However, this day was different. We were in the middle of the Arctic tundra. It had taken us over two hours to ride 30 miles north of Inuvik. We were cold, muddy, exhausted, and scared to death. We stopped on the side of the road. At that moment, I wasn't fully aware of Bill's emotional state, but I confess that fear had nearly overwhelmed me. In the paralyzing fog of anxiety, I wanted to give up. We considered turning around and returning to the safety of Inuvik. In that moment, however, I will never forget saying to one another, “We will NEVER return to this place again. This is our one and only chance! If we turn back now, we will REGRET this decision the rest of our lives!” We prayed and pressed on. Crawling through the mud at an average speed of 20 miles per hour for the next 60 miles, we arrived in Tuktoyaktuk three hours later to become part of the first motorcyclists in North America to arrive in Tuktoyaktuk on the Canada’s first all-season road to the Arctic Ocean. My friends, the distance between your dreams and reality is called ACTION! Be strong and of good courage! You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and your journey is not solo.