RevKang.org

Hey folks,

Why is this broken down 40 year old riding 150+ miles, over 2 days for the MS150?
Is it just to say i’ve done it? -i have no such ego..
Is it to challenge my body physically? -i have 3 kids, i need no more challenges
Then why oh why am i planning to take this ridiculous trip from Houston to Austin on a non-air conditioned, non-motorized bicycle?! on a bike (shoes, shorts, helmet) i had to borrow?!

My reason:
Several years ago, i had the privilege of meeting a energetic young lady who had a heart to serve the community and the world. Christine had come to join the church plant we had just started here in Houston. Shortly after, I had come to find out that she had a rare disease akin to MS called Devic’s Syndrome. This seemed like a devastating diagnosis to me, but Christine seemed to have a great optimism about her life and a desire to help others regardless.
Not long after joining the church, Christine had gone to a Summit conference where she felt inspired to reach out to those who were living with AIDS in Africa. She would come to eventually help lead a team of folks from our church  to Ethiopia in 2007.

It was during the training for this trip to Ethiopia that Christine’s health started to get worse from the symptoms of Devic’s. From decreased visions to shingles to various other ailments, life became ever more challenging. It became so bad that we questioned whether or not Christine should even take the grueling trip to Ethiopia. But like the trooper she is, Christine pushed forward and made the trip out with us to Africa. Shortly after getting to Ethiopia, Christine’s ailments seemed to flair up more and more. But no matter how difficult it became for her, Christine kept going! Truly she helped to encourage and inspire not only our team but others we would meet as well.
Even after returning from Ethiopia, Christine’s health continued to suffer from the disease. However, even with her sight almost completely gone, she managed to get accepted and start in a MFA program for writing, as well as play drums for the Worship team at church (she’s got great rhythm)!
As she looks ahead to her wedding this spring, i am continuously amazed by the strength she shows in her life.

So why do i ride this year? because over the years i have known Christine, i realize that there is not a whole lot i can do when she is in the grasp of this disease. I can’t make her pain go away.. i can’t restore her sight, i can’t prevent her from the pains she endures.. i can only try and be there for her when i can.. and pray for her as often as i can..
A month or so ago i heard this song by Rob Thomas. Like most songs I hear on the radio, I didn’t think too much about the lyrics of the song, but found the words interesting and the tune catchy (gotta love RT).  Eventually i got around to googling the video and lyrics and reading about the meaning behind the song.   It turns out it’s about his wife who has an autoimmune disease similar to lupus.. and some of the helplessness he feels in trying to help her..

Lyrics:
Oh what the hell she says I just can’t win for losing
And she lays back down
Man there’s so many times I don’t know what I’m doing
Like I don’t know now

By the light of the moon she rubs her eyes
Says it’s funny how the night
Can make you blind
I can just imagine

And I don’t know what I’m supposed to do
But if she feels bad then I do too
So I let her be

Chorus
And she says uuuh
I can’t take no more
Her tears like diamonds on the floor
And her diamonds bring me down
Cause I can’t help her now
She’s down in it
She tried her best and now she can’t win it’s
Hard to see them on the ground
Her diamonds falling down

She sits down and stares into the distance
And it takes all night
And I know I could break her concentration
Oooh but it don’t feel right

By the light of the moon she rubs her eyes
Sits down on the bed and starts to cry
And there’s something less about her
And I don’t know what I’m supposed to do
So I sit down and I cry too
Don’t let her see

Chorus

Bridge
She shuts out the night
Tries to close her eyes
If she can find daylight
She’ll be all right
She’ll be all right
Just not tonight

——

So why do I ride?

… i ride because i hate the disease that affects so many wonderful people .. I ride because i can’t stand it when she’s in pain.. I ride because my heart dies a little when i see her cry.. i ride because i feel i need to do something… anything!

So this year.. I ride the MS150.

Perhaps you know someone affected too? If you can, i encourage you to ride as well.. but even if you can’t this year.. Would you join me through a small pledge/donation?
The ride is April 17-18 so i know i only have a couple of weeks to raise the funds… but it’s something that we can do together..
you can Donate Here

or pledge through my facebook (there’s a ms150 section on my profile)

Thank you and mayGod Bless you

Shawn (Hyun) Kang

Non biker…