This blog is especially for those of you who have been faithfully praying for my health. Most of you know that one of the reasons for the bicycle trip is that I have read and found by experience that bicycle riding helps my Parkinson’s. I ride a stationary bike at home for 30 to 60 minutes most days and that helps, but the 6 to 10 hours a day that we are riding on this trip has helped a lot. There are a number of issues with Parkinson’s, but  there are three that bother me most. The worst is the 24/7 fatigue and weariness that I now experience. I work at ignoring it and doing what I need to do in spite of how I feel, and taking 15 minute power naps during the day. My natural energy level has always been a major plus for me in my life and ministry and now that is mostly gone. A second and similar issue is depression. It really isn’t depression but a lack of desire or motivation to do anything, just sort of a flatness. Again the natural passion, vision, and fire that has been in me all of my life  has always been a major strength in my leadership at the church and in my ministry. Now I use “to do” lists and goals  to motivate myself even more than I have in the past, and work hard at developing the character trait of self control so I do what I know I need to do even if I am not excited about doing it. The third issue is the muscle stiffness and pain that wears on me and contributes to the first two problems of weariness and being unmotivated. Today as I was riding along the road I thought “I haven’t felt this good for awhile”. When I say “feel good” I am talking about my energy, joy, enthusiasm, passion, and even the muscle stiffness and pain is mostly gone. It really is quite significant the change that I have experienced over the last month. I am not totally where I was 5 years ago, but close I think. I am determined to make the exercise bike even more a part of my life than it has been when we get back home, and work at riding my bicycle outside as much as I can. Thank you so much to all of you who have been faithfully praying for me.