The Pedaling Professor: Riding in the rain

Friday, May 9, 2008

Riding in the rain

What's it like to ride in the rain? Today I contemplated that question as I rode 80 miles. There were no other bikes on the road, only rain.... Go figure.

In a Zen monastery there is a zendo, or mediation chapel, where zazen (the sitting meditation) is practiced. During zazen, the Teacher walks among the monks carrying a stick. If a monk starts to drift off, he may ask the teacher to hit him with the stick so as to bring back his focus. (It's a dream of mine to bring this pedagogical technique to Rutgers.) At any rate, a young novice asks the Teacher what it feels like. The Teacher replies, "It's a stick. I hit you with it. It hurts."

That's what it's like to ride in the rain.

No comments:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

About Elijah's Promise

I am riding to raise funds for Elijah's Promise, which began as a small soup kitchen and has since become a multi-service agency that moves people out of poverty. Elijah’s Promise is working to empower lives, invite justice and alleviate hunger. The organization offers a continuum of services leading to self-sufficiency. These programs include a soup kitchen which serves 300 to 400 meals daily, a meal program for HIV-infected clients, and a culinary school.

My goal is to raise $10 a mile, which comes to $38,000 and will fund 15,200 meals. Elijah's Promise is serving 14.% more meals this year than last year, so your support will help us go the extra mile to fight hunger!

To donate online: Go to the main Elijah's Promise page, and click on the "donate" link on the upper right side. Don't forget to type "bike ride" in the "purpose field." You may also download a paper donation form here.

About Me

Here I am, a dad, a professor, and now an athlete. Who’d have thunk it? The dad thing gives me the most joy. Chris (29), Rebecca (26), and Matt (19) have enriched my life by teaching me all sorts of things. Being a professor is a good gig. Rutgers has taught me a lot in 24 years, as Department Chair, Director of the Graduate Program, and as a teacher. My favorite classes are “The Science of Food,”and “Food Safety: Fads, Facts, and Politics.”

I try to remember the words of the Harvard theologian, Henri Nouwen: “When you die and stand before God, the question won’t be “How many papers have you published in peer review journals?” The question will be “What have you done for the least of your brothers.*" This ride is dedicated to the least of my brothers (and sisters). Riding a bike to feed the hungry, pretty neat idea if I do say so myself.