Riding the White Line: Is Grace Low on the Totem Pole?

By Mick Humbert

This is the third and final book of a trilogy, of sorts, I had in mind some six years ago. In Is Grace Low on the Totem Pole? the most religious topic that has formed the center of my lifes journey will be explored. The bicycle touring material for this book is a ride I began in Alaska, called Homer to Home, which started in June 2014 on my recumbent bicycle that I call Grace. In exploring the religious topic of Grace, this book certainly is the most heady and philosophical that I have written. Hopefully, the bicycling experiences I present will make Grace more understandable and relevant for you.

If Jesus had been raised in an Inuit culture, I believe he would have understood and spoken in parables about the totem pole. The word Grace that we use so often in Christian tradition seems too mystical and ethereal for general understanding, much less as a practical application upon which to base ones life. I wish to pose and expound on the question: is Grace low on the totem pole? Using material, stories, and personalities from the ride along with the symbolism of the totem pole in the epilogue, I aim to explore a place that Grace can have in ones life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504908399

Mick Humbert

Mick has suffered from a Mental Illness for over 30 years including inpatient hospitalization, outpatient programs, counseling, ECT, and other modalities. The author was born in Hastings in 1957 at the very facility, Regina of Hastings, which he retired from as a Chaplain in 2020. Coming from a background as a dentist in a family practice with his father and brother for 13 years, Mick moved toward a spiritual vocation in the late 80’s. Following ordination to the Permanent Diaconate of the Roman Catholic Church in 1993, he obtained a Masters in Pastoral Studies. Along with three different parish assignments in the 29 years of diaconal ministry, Mick functioned within the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis as an Interim Parish Life Administrator, as well as several years affiliated with the campus ministry staff at Cretin-Derham Hall facilitating outreach ministry with youth. Mick has also been active for 35 years in the Catholic retreat program called Cursillo. Following dentistry, Mick pursued a 14-year career in social services through the local private agency, Hastings Family Service, focusing on supportive transportation and caregiving services to the people of the Hastings area. Mick lives in Hastings with his wife, Rita, who now joins him in semi-retirement. Mick and Rita have two adult daughters who are married, and several grandchildren. For leisure and reflection, Mick engages most avidly in bicycling on his recumbent tricycle named “Trinity”, and electric recumbent named “Grace”.

Book preview

2015 Mick Humbert. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

NASB

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/04/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-0840-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-0838-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-0839-9 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

19459.png

I wanna live like there’s no tomorrow

Love like I’m on borrowed time

It’s good to be alive

Lyrics from Good To Be Alive

By Jason Day

Dedication

To the sun that has generously shined on me often

To love that has been offered even when I have not accepted it

And to a loving God even when God seems to be absent

Front cover: Grace (my recumbent bicycle) and I at a totem pole in Ksan Cultural Village, Hazelton British Columbia

Back cover: Author biking photo

Acknowledgements

First and foremost to my wife Rita, for supporting all 10 of my time- and labor-intensive fundraising bicycle rides. Ann and Shep provided much appreciated ride support during the ALCAN Highway ride and shuttle service to Prince George after the ride was discontinued. To my daughter Teresa and her husband Aaron: the remainder of the trip with you was indeed cherished. The people met along the tour, many offering hospitality, provided some of the material for this book, and beyond the cycling itself are the treasure of any cycling ride. For the 95% of motorists and truckers who actually take a cyclists safety in mind as they pass by, and the road construction and maintenance crews for the ability to ride the roadways safely, I give you my thanks. Any polish to this book is due to the editorial skills of my niece, Melanie Howard. Finally, to the indigenous tribes of NW Canada and Alaska, who sacrificed much of their original land, independence, and freedom, thus allowing many years later one Caucasian cyclist the joy of travelling through what is called – First Nation territory.

Acknowledgement%20Photo.tif

Ride Support: Team Ham and Team Q Silver - Prince George, British Columbia

Shep, Aaron, Teresa, and Ann

blue%20map.tif

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter I   Trinity - Wrangell Mountains

Chapter II   Royal Priesthood - Alpine Lupine

Chapter III   A House Built on Sturdy Ground - Battle Hill Gitwangak

Chapter IV   Come to Me All You Who are Weary - Rest Area

Chapter V   Jesus as Nuisance - Numchuck from Ninilchik

Chapter VI   Myopic Construction - Chugiak Spill

Chapter VII   My Way and the Highway - Road Spray and (RVs) Real Vermin

Ride Photos

Chapter VIII   You are Priest, Prophet, and King - Executive Producers Apply

Chapter IX   Rallying around Grace - Pass the Ports

Chapter X   Discipleship: Making Due with What’s Available - Derailleur Fix

Chapter XI   Lamp unto Thy Feet & Light unto Thy Path - Burwash Roundup

Chapter XII   No Greater Gift… - Bloom Where Possible—Dulacs of Haines Junction.

Chapter XIII   Sandal Shaking - When Things go Froot LoopsTM

Chapter XIV   Positioning Grace - Bearly Sane

Epilogue

Introduction

This is the third and final book of a trilogy, of sorts, I had in mind some six years ago. Using cycling tours as a backdrop and for euphemisms and analogies, I have written the series under the title Riding the White Line. I discussed values, through encounters with others during my travels, in my first book, Pedestrian Crossings. Next, I drew on personal experiences, some as autobiography, in writing about what one does with challenges in life in Traffic Tickets and Thunderstorms. In Is Grace Low on the Totem Pole?, the most religious topic that has formed the center of my life’s journey will be explored. The bicycle touring material for this book is a ride I began in Alaska, called Homer to Home, which started in June 2014 on my recumbent bicycle that I call Grace. In exploring the religious topic of Grace, this book certainly is the most heady and philosophical that I have written. Hopefully, the bicycling experiences I present will make Grace more understandable and relevant for you.

If Jesus had been raised in an Inuit culture, I believe he would have understood and spoken in parables about the totem pole. The word Grace that we use so often in Christian tradition seems too mystical and ethereal