I’ve learned so much from the past few weeks of riding my bicycle around Florida - the generosity of strangers, of friends, and what it is to be hungry and broke. Most importantly, though, was the power of positive decisions, no matter how grim things seemed like they were.

There was a point, after a 85 mile ride with nothing to eat except for some grapefruits taken from a wild tree, that I was so very close to giving up on my ride. The whole goal of going anywhere, of doing anything big just seemed futile and immature and rash. I still had another 65 miles to go the next day before I saw my friends and got a meal. And then I just collapsed.

It was right outside of a country club. Little old broke me, riding my bike around with no money for food, and there’s this giant display of everything I didn’t have. A home and money for food and my friends and family with me. No, just me and my bike. I walked my bike up to the fountain and just laid down. Thought hard.

Nothing. Just hunger in my stomach and dehydration in my head. Fuzzy unclear thoughts, and a whole lot of me wondering how the hell I got into this mess. And then for some reason a part of the sermon on the mount pops into my head… “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?…” “for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

I’m not a christian, but remembering this passage made me feel better. I got on my bike knowing that I was going to get a meal. Not from where, but I rode my bike up the road a bit, and saw a small (very small) ice cream shop. I asked an older couple standing they would buy me a meal, and explained my situation. They turned me down. For some reason I was unfased.

I walked up to the counter of the shop and rang the bell. A cute young girl ran up and gave me a big smile. I smiled back.

“I know this sounds weird, but I’m broke and traveling, and I was wondering if I could do some dishes for a meal…?”

“Hold on.”

I sat there waiting, saw her go back and talk with a woman, and then come back.

“We don’t have any dishes.”

Heartbreak. A little.

“But what do you want?”

Fish.

They brought out a huge coke and two pieces of fried fish and french fries with ketchup and tarter sauce.

I sat in their parking lot and had the best meal of my life.

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