I first met Barney Li when working for Mercedes Benz. He previously had sold his company, Eagle One Products and was enjoying life. He and his wife were busy raising his family, he was taking more time to ride, and working on resurrecting the Vincent motorcycle. But his passion was motorcycles, and this was our common bond. Although he had a distrust of the automotive industry, many sins of mine for being involved in it were forgiven because I rode. And we loved to bench race. More than once he would call saying he was coming by, his CL500 was acting up again, only to spend 45 minutes telling me of his recent ride, and then saying he would deal with the car later. And although we both rode the US extensively, Barney saw America through a different set of eyes than I did, and do.
Barney's riding partners were fellow entrepreneurs and millionaires. He rode with Kyle Petty, Peter Fonda, and had spent a weekend riding at Kenny Roberts' ranch. He was used to going first class, and preferred Yamahas, he had once had a Yamaha franchise. So as where some of my friends would camp after a long day's ride, and I would be negotiating the last $5 off my room rate, he and his friends would be waiting for the support vehicle to show up with all their stuff, so they could go out to dinner,, and then back to their 5 star hotel. Different levels of living, but one level of road. Motorcycles being the common denominator. For money hadn't made him a motorcyclist, it just gave him more time and a higher level of doing it. Sadly he also died while doing what he loved best, in a single bike crash in Arizona on a road I had travelled just after his death, not knowing at the time he had died there.
You might say I was the different one in his riding circle. When I moved over to Land Rover, and his wife came in, she immediately called him. "Mike is at Land Rover, come on over." Which he did, with his newest custom bike in his truck. A Yamaha of course. And there went most of the morning-but that was Barney, and that was us. So when Elizabeth called to tell me of the accident, I was saddened. A friend had died, doing what he loved. With his friends. A sad end you might think, but how many would like to end life doing what they love? So I miss Barney and his stories. We went so many places together, but not with each other. We saw so much of America, but from a different perspective. My only regrets are we never rode together. Although we talked of it, the fact we didn't made the relationship even more special. And I wish I had taken advantage of the open invitation to see his motorcycle collection. I had an open invitation, but my old chapter, somehow they weren't interested. Their loss. With Barney, our common bond was be motorcycling-not a brand. We rode alone, but somehow together.
Yesterday my friend Alex went home to heaven. Age 93, he is now listed in the book of life in eternity. I knew him through our seniors Bible study, and even at this age, he was bright and alert. And active. And loved to talk of the common love we shared-Jesus Christ. "Mike, I just want to go see my Jesus," he would always say. He wanted to go to heaven so much, for he knew he would be with Jesus. And because Jesus was the center of his life, everything in his life was based on it. And the love of God showed through him.
I visited him in the hospital and nursing home almost everyday the last few weeks of his life. I would read his devotional, then we would pray, and sing. His last mini stroke took his voice and ability to swallow, but he showed more love with his smile than many do with words. I got to meet and pray with his kids, and what an honor it was to see them loving on him. What a legacy. But one last precious moment God gave us was giving him water on his parched throat and lips. Swabbing them gently, he could only have thick liquids, I tenderly gave him water. While I watched his dry absorb the water, he glowed at the humility of the moment. God reminding us of the living water that only He can provide. Only a loving God could show that. A personal and intimate moment with God. And I am thankful. That is how I will remember Alex.
So when I saw his bed empty yesterday, and the nurse said he wasn't there, I knew. "He's in heaven, isn't he?" I said. She smiled and nodded yes. The one thing Alex lived for was finally his. And I started to laugh between tears for my friend.
Do you have the same joy as Alex? Do you wish the things of heaven? It takes Jesus, the only way. Ask Him into your heart today. Be assured that His promises are faithful. And let me know so we can rejoice with the angels in heaven.
Soon, and very soon, we are going to meet the king. Heaven awaits, but we start the celebration today. Alex is home at last.
love with compassion,
Mike
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