The Odyssey
A few weeks ago we were in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho making final preparations for the EBR (Epic Bike Ride). We had been hearing a lot about the new movie that was recently released called The Odyssey, based on the poem from Greek Mythology. We had a free evening and decided to go see it. Wow was it loud and intense! Mary-Beth covered her eyes and ears most of the movie, especially during the scenes with the Cyclops!
Odysseus — King of Ithaca and the hero of the epic. After fighting in the Trojan War he spends 10 years trying to get home to his wife and son. He is clever, resourceful, and a courageous man, sometimes overly proud. Odysseus encounters many creatures and people on his journey home that try to prevent his return.
One of the scariest was Polyphemus, a one-eyed Cyclops, when Odysseus’s men found their way into his cave he ate several of them. There was Scylla a very scary sea monster with 6 heads. Or Aeolus — Keeper of the winds, who gives Odysseus a bag containing the unfavorable winds.
A few days after seeing the moving, MB confessed, “I am a little nervous about this journey.” I asked, “What are you nervous about?” She said, well, what if we meet a Cyclops or a 6 headed sea creature along the way? Well we both know that won’t happen but there are tons of unknowns we will meet ahead in our journey.
As it turns out we are already facing our first Cyclops. If you have been watching the news you have probably heard about the Wild fires in the Pacific Northwest. The Great American Rail Trail runs right through the largest of the fires in Spokane, WA where 800 structures have been lost. It is a tragedy!
So what do we do when worry starts setting in?
- Do Not Worry
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
2. Pray – for rain & containment of the fires
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
3. Looking at alternate routes around the fire.
We leave San Diego Tuesday morning, please keep us in your prayers, we are very excited for this adventure and it’s already starting out as an E-Ticket (for you older Disney fans) ride, and we have not even left home yet. Appreciate all who are along for the journey!
rickallendunn 
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