My first bike was a 1972 CB350 Honda. At the time, it accounted for over half of Honda's US sales, and came in three versions-from dirt to street, the CB being the street. For all of it 325cc it made about 25 horsepower, fast when you considered its weight. And faster than all but the fastest Muscle car at the time. But as we all know, you cannot have enough power, and after 6 months and over 6500 miles, I sold it and bought an R60/5 BMW. Not a powerful bike, but with 50 hp much quicker than the Honda. And when I first opened the throttle, BMW used to use this stupid throttle, to open it full you had to turn it one and a half times, it shot forward-the extra 20 horses almost throwing me off the bike. Does the word road apple mean anything to you? And repeating this through all four gears. And as the bystanders gaped, I very uncooly went down the road. The bike riding me. Makes you wonder, why can someone who hasn't ridden, know that you can't either when you ride like this?
Two years, and 25,000 miles later, after it was totaled in Florida, I got an R90/6, with 65hp, and in the three days I had it, didn't repeat the throttle show-it got totaled, too, before I could. After healing, and getting my legs back, I bought an R90S, the biggest and baddest BMW ever built. 77horsepower, and it would fly-as I would find out. And leaving 441 Cycle in Florida, I opened the throttle too much, and repeated my R60 adventure, this time much faster, and with more power-truly God was with me. 100mph comes up quicker when you are young and stupid-the stupid being the enduring trait. Many unfortunately, never got the chance to be old and stupid. Poor throttle control.
But I learned to ride that bike, and when to use the power. BMWs are known for soft suspensions, and would rise when the gas was applied, giving you more ground clearance in corners, and bragging to others that is why your superlative skills allowed you to not scrape the side stand or cylinder heads sticking out. Never admitting that fear took over long before common sense or physical law kicked in, but you sounded cool. And since no one else rode BMWs, you were safe in the fact that they couldn't prove you wrong. The advice for too fast into a corner of keep leaning is true, and was used to my success, and survival many times. But the point here is throttle control-knowing when to apply power-and not.
Life is like this too. And God tells us the fruit of the spirit is meekness, not weakness. Power under control, not doing the wrong thing when it would be ok to do it. For example, you lend money to a friend, something God tells you not to do, and they renege on the deal. You can sue, but don't, wishing your witness to carry more weight than the money lost, and hopefully restoring a brother. Or, when you get cut off on the highway, just staying out of their way, rather than chasing them down and telling them how stupid they are. And finding they have a gun, and may not be under control. And giving them the chance to run their 4000lb. car at you again. It is doing a better thing, when you can do what the world expects. I have learned this from experience, and wish I had listened so as to not have the bruises and scars to prove it. Galatians 5 tells us the FRUIT-not fruits, of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, longsuffering(not my favorite), meekness, and self control. There is no law against these things. They are individual, but act together as one. When you are under control, emotionally, spiritually, and physically-you can be meek, your power is under control. It allows you to suffer for someone, or something, being patient while not demanding your own way, but waiting for God's plan to unfold. You can be kind, and not rude-pray for the jerk that just cut you off, and stay out of his way-a warning from God so he can't hit you. Goodness will be displayed by doing the right thing,and maybe shocking others. "Isn't that the same guy who goes by at 100? What's different about him?" A good chance to share Jesus. You learn patience, looking both ways as the light turns green-did you know that wherever a stop light camera has been placed accidents have increased? Look both ways, and in your mirror too. R90/6 accident for example.
You feel a joy, not the emotion of happiness, but joy knowing God is with you. It is his presence, not the absence of pain that is true joy. Never leaving you, but always there. Joy is why people who know your physical, emotional, and financial state can not understand how you get through. To them we appear crazy, or careless, but really it is joy, and being carefree. Are you wearing Jesus' colors, His yoke? Your fruits will tell the truth. And finally these all make up love-who is God, and as we abide in Him we become like Him, showing these characteristics to the world.
Today the 77 hp of the R90s is less than any 600, by 30 horses. My friend Ray's Hayabusa has over 180hp, now that takes some throttle control! The amount of power shown in your walk with God will reflect your throttle hand. How do you use it? When? When 0-100 can come up in 6 seconds, the time it takes to read this sentence, you better be in control. And know where all the controls are. So many accidents can be avoided by just pulling in the clutch. Too fast, pull it in. Apply some brakes. The ride of life is an endurance, not a 1/4 mile drag. Finishing requires meekness, that power under control, and knowing when to open it up, or when to shut it down. Like a throttle, life is adjustable-learn how to apply the power and grace that only God can offer today.
As bikers, we know every car and every cop is out to get us. And as Christians we know there is always someone just waiting to see us screw up. Meekness, throttle or power under control. Bear some fruit-and use the money you save on tickets to buy more motorcycles! Have the ride of your life-in Jesus. Look at his hands, the nail marks show His power under control. For God so loved bikers, He gave His only son, and not just you bikers, but everyone who takes a breath. Be cool-be under control. Be meek-remember it is those of us who are meek who inherit the earth. And I have plans for it, wide roads, sweeping curves, no cars... be there to enjoy it!
As bikers, we know every car and every cop is out to get us. And as Christians we know there is always someone just waiting to see us screw up. Meekness, throttle or power under control. Bear some fruit-and use the money you save on tickets to buy more motorcycles! Have the ride of your life-in Jesus. Look at his hands, the nail marks show His power under control. For God so loved bikers, He gave His only son, and not just you bikers, but everyone who takes a breath. Be cool-be under control. Be meek-remember it is those of us who are meek who inherit the earth. And I have plans for it, wide roads, sweeping curves, no cars... be there to enjoy it!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com