Today's story comes from Jack Crabtree, Director of Long Island YFC.

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When I was in college I rode a bicycle from Miami to Seattle, 4300 miles in 37 days. There were 35 guys on this trip riding across America. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Not only did I get to see America, I learned big lessons about myself and my relationship to God. Growing up I went to church every week but I never understood God’s love. I was a church kid clueless about how Jesus could live in me and change me.

Biking across Wyoming I learned something I’ll never forget. When the wind was blowing, the riders on our trip would clump up in groups of 10. Riding was easier when we worked together. Riding in a double file draft line when the wind was against us, the riders in the front took the brunt of the wind. The riders behind the leaders felt less wind resistance and pedaled more easily. The group leader broke the wind for a mile then rotated to the back of the pack. Everyone moved up and kept riding the steady pace.

That windy day in Wyoming was one of the worst of my life. I woke up sick. Not riding wasn’t a choice. I tried hard but I couldn’t keep up with the riding pace of my group. They waited for me a few times but each time I fell behind again. Finally they rode off without me.

Now I was riding alone. The wind was 40mph in my face. My body was so weak. There were so many miles to go. I was sure I would never make it.

Suddenly I looked up and there was John Hanson, a guy from my bike group, riding toward me. He swung his bike around and pulled his bike in front of mine. Breaking the wind for me, he rode the slower pace I could handle. During the next four hours he took the full blast of the wind and pulled me along until we got to our campground for the night.

As I crawled into our six-man tent, I saw John Hanson already in his sleeping bag totally exhausted. I asked one question, “Why did you come back to ride with me?”

He opened his eyes and said, “A couple years ago I started following Jesus Christ and made it my goal to be like him. In the Bible it says, ‘this is how we know what real love is. Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.’”

With that he rolled over and went to sleep. I had heard a lot of sermons in church but I never heard one as good as that one.

The next day I felt better and got back on my bike. All day I pedaled and thought about what John did for me yesterday and what he said in the tent. This guy left the comfort and safety of the biking group to come back and spend all his strength helping me make it.

Somewhere between Wyoming and Seattle it hit me. God’s love is real. What John did for me helped me understand what Jesus did for all of us when he died on the cross. He left the comforts of Heaven to suffer and laid down his life for us when we could not make it on our own. Since that bike trip I can never forget God’s love for me.