Returning to Confession
Non‑Catholics often say you don’t need to go to confession. You can simply confess privately to God. Catholics do that too, but speaking sins aloud and hearing absolution through the Sacrament of Reconciliation is freeing.
When a Parfait Triggered My Grief
My thoughts form in random places. Monday, it happened while I was picking up a chicken sandwich and a yogurt parfait for lunch. Grief has a way of hiding in everyday moments, and the last thing I expected was for a parfait to trigger mine. It brought me back to my childhood when my mom used to buy my sister and me KFC little bucket parfaits, and I got teary‑eyed.
Pushing Past the Mental Block
My gravel bike recently got a few upgrades, switching from a two‑by to a one‑by and adding a bigger cassette to help me on climbs. We decided to test everything after work on a Thursday ride in Cleves. Mt. Nebo Road is a long steep road out there that I’ve ridden down before but never attempted to climb. I reluctantly agreed to try.
Finding Peace in the Midst of Challenge
Cycling in Riccione, Italy, was a trip filled with beauty, good rides, great food, and a few unexpected challenges. Even with all the excitement, the week did not unfold perfectly. I struggled with sleep from the moment I boarded the plane. I can't seem to sleep on a plane and the overnight flight was no different. During the trip, I also found myself wide awake at 3:00 or 4:00 AM a few nights, unable to fall back asleep.
Cycling in Riccione, Italy
I traveled to Italy for the first time this spring. We flew into Bologna and stayed there the first night before heading to Riccione. It was a nice way to settle in after a long travel day. Our first authentic Italian meal and a little exploring made for a gentle introduction. We’d return to Bologna again on our last night.