TUESDAY.APRIL16.2002 NEWS THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A Bike ride to promote marriage, parenting By Adam Pracht Kansan staff writer A University of Kansas piano major will leave behind the keyboard this weekend and take to a bicycle for more than 200 miles. Abigail Smith, Garner sophomore, will start this Friday on a three-day journey from Wichita to Overland Park to raise $3,000 for Focus on the Family. The event is called Bike Ride for the Family, and it is one out of many similar rides, which are held in all 50 states. The Colorado Springs, Col- based organization is a Christian group that tries to strengthen families by promoting better marriages and parenting. It does radio shows, publishes magazines and writes books to encourage individuals to "focus on the family." Smith said she thought that Focus on the Family had an important message. "I think that the family is really in a crisis," she said. "There's probably nobody on campus who hasn't been affected by divorce, whether it's personally or a very close friend." Smith said she first heard about the bike ride through an advertisement on a Christian radio station. After doing some more research on the Internet and praying about the event, she decided that she wanted to participate. But several problems stood in her way. She didn't have the money for the registration fee, and she wasn't in shape for such a long ride. She also didn't have a suitable bike — only a one-speed that she had owned since grade school. Once again she relied on her faith and prayed for help. She said she got her answer in several ways. She got a larger tax refund than she expected, and it covered her $200 registration. Later, she found a road bicycle on e-bay for about $100 that would have normally cost about $300. Since then, she has been training on a stationary bicycle in Robinson Center every day. She said that the ride was the only challenging athletic event that she had considered attempting. She said that before her decision to ride the most exercise she got was walking up the stairs in Murphy Hall. Cari Zeigler, corporate publicist for Focus on the Family, said that most riders were middle aged, and she was excited to see a college student involved in the trip. "I think it just shows that Focus on the Family reaches a broad audience and that's exciting to know that we are reaching a younger crowd as well," she said. Smith's father, Scott Smith, said he was surprised that what his daughter was doing was so athletic but knew that she liked a challenge. "Even if she's completely worn out, you'll see her cross the finish line," he said. "She'll do good." Smith said that her faith was the main reason she was riding. But she also said experiencing divorce in her own family when she was 12 made her want to encourage other families to stay together through Focus on the Family. "I cried myself to sleep every night for about a year-and-a-half." she said. "That was when I prayed, and that was when I called out to God and found his strength. He spoke to me a lot." She said that the money she raised would go to create stronger families in the United States. "Because of what I did, one person might be helped or encouraged to wait on the divorce and try to work on the marriage or try to work on the relationship with their kids," Smith said. To learn more about Focus on the Family and the Bike Ride for the family, visit their Web sites, www.family.org and www.bikerideforthefamily.org. Those who want to help Smith reach her fund-raising goal can visit the latter Web site, click on "Sponsor a Rider" on the left and then click "Donate to Riders." Smith's rider ID number is 3810. aprachit@kansan.com. This story was edited by Angela Cox. Contact Pracht at Abigail Smith, Garner sophomore, will participate in a three-day bike ride to benefit Focus on the Family, a religious organization that tries to strengthen families by promoting better marriages and parenting. JOHN NOWAK/KANSAN AARON SHOWALTER/KANSAN Johnathan Smith, distinguished professor of humanities at the University of Chicago, explains one scholar's comparisons between the concept of the sacred and the concept of private property. Smith gave a lecture last night at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. Religious scholar discusses 'sacred' Speaker gives insight to ideas behind word By Mike Gilligan Kansan staff reporter Religious scholar Jonathan Z. Smith took time last night to explain his views on the word "sacred." Smith presented the annual religious studies lecture last night at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. About 80 people attended the lecture, which was sponsored by the religious studies department. Smith began his lecture by summarizing the views held by other scholars, such as Emile Durkheim, on the meaning of the word sacred. Smith said Durkheim believed that if something was sacred, individuals had to keep their distance from that object. He also said Durkheim thought everything that came into contact with a sacred object would become sacred as well. Smith said scholars could have a hard time studying older sources, especially sources that had been translated. Smith said he started studying religion in college, where he switched his major from botany to philosophy. "Translation can be correctable," he said. "It can never be fully-adequate or complete." He earned his Ph.D. from Yale University and now teaches at the University of Chicago. Smith said people must compare different translations and look at them critically. He also gave his views on sacred objects. He said the sacred was about access and who could and could not see sacred objects. Smith said the Vietnam War Memorial was a good example of something that was sacred. "Sacred is about touching and untouching, who is privileged," he said. "It's one of America's pilgrimages," he said. "The markings on the stone, which are the names of soldiers who died in the war, are what make it sacred." Smith said it the memorial should be sacred for everyone, regardless of whether someone was for or against the war. "Sacred is about touching and untouching, who is privileged." Jonathan Z. Smith Religious scholar Laura Walker, Lawrence senior, said it was interesting to hear someone talk about the meaning of sacred. "The word gets tossed around a lot without people understanding what it means," she said. Contact Gilligan at mgilligan@kansan.com Great tents for your next adventure...at rates cheaper than a hotel room! Tour operator at just $140! SUNFLOWER OUTDOOR than a hotel room! Tents starting at just $140! Room Service Not Included! 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