Thursday, December 1, 2011

I'm sorry, I thought you rode




My friend used to tell me that there are only two colors for motorcycles-and that both are black. We'd laugh, but in his Harley Davidson world, he may have been right. Seems Harley thinks in black, as in profits, and also for the basic color of their motorcycles, read the small print, you want color, you pay extra. So maybe that is why we see so many black Harleys, they rather spend the money on the chrome! And per Harley, after the dumping of Buell, they rather sell you $3000 of chrome-an average upsell on a new bike, than sell you a sport bike. It seems they know their customers, or do their customers know them?
With the popularity of Sons of Anarchy, the fictitious 1%er soap opera, I see guys on all kinds of bikes wearing their clothes. bad dudes-nude the small d. From guys who are the lifestyle, to trendy guys and girls who would never ride, might mess up their hair, or even get bugs on their shirts, motorcycling has become a popular fashion. It has always been popular for Harley riders to get shirts from dealers when travelling, and I have been doing it with Triumph for years. Johnson Motors a few years back even brought out a line of retro shirts, but @$50 a shirt, you never saw many on the street. And even though Christopher tells me the material is high quality, the one I bought sits among the other lesser shirts in my closet. The price we pay to be stylish.
But "bad guy" biker/moto clothes seem to be in. Triumph has a Steve McQueen collection, some cool stuff. Also a James Dean jacket, and a Black Rebels Motorcycle Club jacket just like Brando wore in The Wild One. So all of us can look as bad as Brando, or as cool as Steve, or as rebellious as Dean without even mussing our hair, or throwing a leg over a motorcycle. Posers we call them, and although they look the part, don't be confused by them. For like their motorcycles, $20,000 and 20 miles don't make you a biker. And we have a bad enough problem with image let alone you posers adding to it. And I find it is usually the wanna-bes that promote the image. My test is simple-no helmet head, no rider. No rider, no biker. No biker-buy your clothes at the GAP. Before you run into a real biker who has had enough of your facade. And may introduce you to the darker side of the lifestyle.
For 400 years the Jews had no prophets, and felt God had deserted them. Then along came John, a voice in the wilderness. Preaching good news, and advising the Jews to be baptized for the repentance of their sins. Now I'm sure there were many false prophets then as now, but John even looked the part. Camel hair robes, a leather belt, and he ate bugs. Sounds like a hippie! But with the absence of a prophet and his message for 400 years, he looked just like Elijah. A great prophet. And people were seeking a prophet. And soon people were flocking to him, in the wilderness, not in the temple or synagogues. And he kept his message simple-" a greater one than me is coming, who I am not fit to tie his sandal." For John was telling of Jesus, the true saviour. The real thing. A messenger in the wilderness, a calling for Jesus.
The real thing. Not trendy. Not stylish. Not a poser. If he had a motorcycle he would have had helmet hair. He wouldn't be found on Oprah, Dr. Phil, or other shows who profess to share their truth, because He is the truth. Whether He wore black leather, or a white shirt with his favorite dealer on it, He still draws people to Himself. He would feel as comfortable riding a black Harley as riding my blue Tiger. He would be happy riding a chopper, and equally at home on a mx'er. For Jesus loved people as they were, not the package they came in. He changed lives from the inside out, not the other way. He has a passion for us, and it goes far beyond leather and colors. He is so cool He doesn't need any of them. He rides. Do you? Or did you just find the shirt?
Remember that as you go out today. Don't be fooled by the shiny leather, or even the distressed leather. Posers are everywhere. And sadly within the confines of religion. So seek Jesus, and Him only. Don't buy into religion. You don't need a set of underwear to get into heaven. You only need Jesus. No denomination can deliver it without Him. No membership or club will deliver it. For if $20k and 20 miles don't make a biker, then sitting in a pew at church doesn't make you a Christian. The only pew you sit in is your own! Seek THE truth, and accept no others.
A funny thing happened with John in the wilderness. Attendance at the temples went down. Enough law, how about some grace? Some truth? It forced people to get out of religion-which Jesus was against, and sent them looking for the truth. Which was found with a simple message about Jesus. Who John pointed everyone to.
Maybe that is why as bikers we enjoy the freedom more than those who don't ride. But the freedom in Jesus even surpasses that. If you see us out, and wonder who we are, we are the ones with helmet head. The dirty leathers, and old boots. No pretty hair or double knit here. We ride. Maybe not on a black bike, although I have two, or even a Harley. We will be identified by the light shining out from us, the love of Christ. A style, that not even the GAP can copy. That no t-shirt can express. Jesus Christ-the real thing, cooler than McQueen, more of a rebel than Dean, and more of a leader than Brando. And yes, even cooler than riding a Harley. He is the life in your style. He is life. He is love. No chrome needed.
A style that goes with any color, on any bike, on any road. Maybe a ride into the wilderness to get away from religion just may be a good weekend ride. Spend some time with Jesus alone. Jesus and motorcycles-too cool for most, but available to all who seek. Wonder what shirt I should wear?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com