Bike For Peace
Annual Bicycle Ride
FIRST ANNUAL BIKE FOR
PEACE
October 26, 2003
 GOAL
OF $10,000 REACHED!
Riders gathered at the Peacemakers Table at the Abbey Conference
Center for the Passing of the Bowl ceremony before the ride began.
Over twenty riders took to the road on a 17-mile ride from Sherborn
to Millis down beautiful windy roads and gentle hills to Strawberry
Fields School located in the old train station in the center of
Millis. Refreshments were available before the tour of the school
and the Lavender House for special needs adults, both of which are
operated by Peace Abbey staff.
 The
Ride met its goal with a late contribution this week bringing the
total from $2,100 to $10,000 for Peace Abbey programs. The contributor,
whose name has yet to be announced, is an avid rider who was away
for the ride but wanted the goal to be reached.
 The
event concluded in the Abbey's Greenhouse Cafe with the recitation
of the Peace Seeds prayers for peace. Each member received a Peace
Seeds Rosary as a gesture of appreciation. Due to rain, all riders
went on the 17-mile route except for two small children and their
mother who did the kid's route (see photo above). Bike for Peace
was organized jointly with members of the Wednesday Wheelers and
the Charles River Wheelmen.
"My Bike Ride For
Peace"
a note from a Bike for Peace rider
Yesterday was a signature New England late-October day. A friend
and I transported our bikes, using his hi-tech roof rack to hold
our bikes, out to Sherborn, Mass. There we found a group of about
25 riders, many experienced riders, gathered to “crank it
up for peace”. We also found the Peace Abbey: a truly wonderful
place. This is a difficult place to describe in a few words so I
refer you to their web site under the links. Suffice to say that
this place lives, breaths and embodies the spirit of peace.
There were thick clouds not too far above us. The wind carried
leaves and a few drops of water. There was a couple riding a really
marvelous tandem recumbent bike leading the group with a large Peace
Flag on a pole attached with duct tape to the back of the bike.
As we wound through sublime New England back roads we got waves
from folks raking leaves in their yards: people clearly originally
from Asia and South America. I felt joy and satisfaction with each
breath.
We had a rest stop at an Alternative School sponsored by the Abbey
that caters to high school students and young adults who need support
in adjusting to our fast-paced and sometimes indifferent society.
At the end of our 17-mile ride we gathered to recite together peace
prayers from 12 world religions. Here is one of them: the Zoroastrian
Prayer For Peace: “We pray to God to eradicate the misery
in the world: that understanding triumph over ignorance, that generosity
triumph over indifference, that trust triumph over contempt, and
that truth triumph over falsehood.” [Note: The modern country
most influenced by the Zoroastrians is Iran.]
Please get involved with, and support, a peace group near you.
» Top
|
