You gotta love LA. Or at least the things you see in the city of angels. While standing at the corner of 9th and Figueroa last week, after stuffing myself at the Pantry, at the red light was a new Bentley convertible. And right behind him an old 1960 silver Falcon. And both cars stood out among the midst of nameless sedans of Japanese origin, with the old Falcon getting most of the comments. And my first thought was only in LA would an old compact car get more attention than a $300,000 Bentley. And as I pondered this, it made me think of what triggers our memory responses-it's the input.
And yesterday while Stu and I were riding back from Mickey's, me on a 2010 Thunderbird, and him on his 1982 Wing, we passed an old Honda 750, with a black Windjammer-odd to me as I had seen very few black ones, white was the standard. The bike looked pretty original, except for the recovered seat, and the box on back, and it activated the memory file, again. I don't claim to understand, but have better insight as to why the Falcon was more interesting, but not necessarily more appealing. I can relate to it. Many in the biking community know Theresa and I as the Triumph people-in a sea of Harleys, we ride Triumphs. And almost every old biker owned one once, and comes up and tells us the stories of how they leaked oil, couldn't be driven at night because of lousy electrics, left me stranded, but I really loved that bike and wish I had never sold it. It may have been the transportation you had in college, or the bike you took your wife on for your first date, and as important as the bike was, it is the memory file it opens when they see our Bonnevilles that they remember. It is all about the memories. And the bike is just the vehicle to get you there.
And most of us came from a Falcon world-that was reality, the Bentley was in our dreams, a dream we knew we would never attain unless an unknown rich uncle died and left us a million dollars. It was fantasy land, and as much as we liked to visit, old sedans were our true initial calling. That was reality. And I love the facades that some people hide their memories behind. "I had a two tone 750 also," they claim, and even though you know Honda never made one, when you see the picture, they really did-rust and primer, two colors! And on Torches one year, the guy who led us on some great roads in Pennsylvania, had a two tone custom seat-black electrical tape, and silver duct tape. Two tone, and custom-just not like anything in the Corbin catalog. Seems we all dream of the red convertible, but live in a sedan world. The only border being reality, but not letting it interfere without dreams. Beauty in the eye of the beholder, a translation no wordsmith can define.
Religion can be like this too. We dream of a God who loves us as we are, but are left with a religion full of people as full of faults as we are, just they seem to remind us more of our faults than we do of theirs. Why is that? Jesus came to rescue us from religion, and the laws that only show us our sin, not God's grace. A relationship free from religion. Imagine the Pharisees, and the memories they would have to share-keeping themselves so holy and righteous in their 1000's of laws, and think of the bondage they lived in. "Hey Bill, remember the time you forgot to wash that pear when you were hungry-thought I forgot ,huh?" Now think of the memories of Jesus-do the words "go and sin no more" mean anything to you? Or do you just remember church as a place that you were told what to do, and tried to avoid on Sunday mornings, the prettiest morning of the week, when you could be riding, but were forced into the most dreadful two hours of the week? And sadly, when many are invited to church, this is how they remember it. It doesn't have to be that way-and for many it isn't!
Memories of Jesus-"do this in remembrance of me," He says in reference to communion. But what is our communion based on? What do you remember about Jesus? I find the things I remember force me to be more thankful, and find my asking turns to thankfulness. Like my computer, I cannot get out of it what was not put in it-and Jesus in a life is so fulfilling. So many memories that a religion cannot fulfill. It's personal, and like the red convertible, I strive to want Him more, but somehow He keeps me content in my sedan world. And maybe that is why the old Falcon got so many looks, we can associate with it, we remember it. It is familiar. The Bentley, well-there are no memory files to fall back on, at least not yet. And if you stop, look, and listen-you may realize that He is building precious memories in you even today. That someday will reflect doing this in memory of Him. You see, I like communion, but I remember Jesus everyday. I don't need the elements to remember Him, He is my life, so why would I not remember Him daily in all I do? Spending time with Him in my thoughts and prayers. Sharing Him with others, and sometimes using words-trying to live my life in remembrance of Him. Because I want to.
Just some old cars in LA? Some memories of old Hondas? Yes, but more. For Los Angeles is the city of angels, lest we forget. Don't forget about the city of angels in heaven, and the person who is the way there. And who on the way builds precious memories to share with others. His name is Jesus, remember Him? If not, why not let today be the start of a new life, and new memories with Him? Let's pray.
love with compassion,
Mike
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