They were two guys trying to make their mark in Paris, one of the world’s great, majestic cities. Paul Barron and Christian Osburn met at a home-church in the French capital a couple of years ago. They were both in their mid-20s, a Kiwi and an American who had traveled to the City of Light in search of adventure. Paul and Christian worked a variety of jobs and became proficient in French.
The guys developed a fast friendship at their home fellowship, where they shared their hopes, dreams and struggles. In early 2006, Paul and Christian began talking about doing something together—something entrepreneurial.
“We need to get away,” Paul said. “A place where we can pray and ask God to give us direction.”
“Any suggestions?” Christian asked.
“How about the Taizé monastery?”
That’s how Paul and Christian ended up at Taizé, a Benedictine monastery situated 250 miles southeast of Paris in the Burgundy district. Taizé is an interdenominational community run by 80 brothers, both Protestant and Catholic, who still sing Gregorian chants three times a day. Set in green pastures and as quiet as a medieval library, Taizé is not to be confused with the Ritz.
Amidst such a contemplative atmosphere, Paul and Christian prayed, read their Bibles and discussed where they thought God was leading them. They tossed out different ideas about what they could do in Paris. One idea was leading guided tours on scooters, but they realized it would cost too much to purchase and maintain 10 mopeds. But regular bicycles? That could work.
A Pedal-Powered Start-Up
Setting up a bike tour company in Paris turned out to be très difficile. There was paperwork to fill out, permits to procure and insurance to purchase. The guys persevered, though, and began offering guided bike tours last summer. They called their company Bike About Tours and targeted English-speaking visitors to Paris.
Twice a day, Paul and his small-wheel, foldable Dahon bike waited in front of the Notre Dame for people to show up for a Paris city tour. The first summer was rough. Sometimes a half-dozen tourists showed up; sometimes no one at all. On one occasion, only one couple appeared: my wife, Nicole, and I.
After introductions were made at the plaza in front of Notre Dame, Paul led us to a nearby van, where Christian was waiting with our bikes. We began by pedaling into the upscale Marais neighborhood, also known as Paris’ Jewish quarter. There Paul showed us the grammar school where Nazis rounded up Jewish children for transport to death camps in Poland and Germany during World War II.
From there, we biked through the courtyards of the Louvre, the world-famous museum and home of the Mona Lisa. Nicole and I had a blast riding along the Seine River, past the Place de la Concorde and in and out of charming neighborhoods. We ended our four-hour ride at the Eiffel Tower, the iconic symbol of Paris that was constructed in 1889 and joined together with 18,038 pieces of iron.
That’s where Paul and Christian told me they were Christians and how, just that morning, they had huddled up in the van and prayed that God would bring them some folks to encourage them.
The guys didn’t know how much they encouraged me or that hearing their story in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower called to mind a verse from Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” 
