Thursday, October 31, 2013

for some there's therapy, for the rest motorcycles










“Look out for cages,” the homeless man told me as I pulled away from the light.  He had been admiring my Bonneville, and was telling me how in better times he used to ride.  And knowing what a cage was, biker lingo for cars, he must have been part of the community of bikers at one time.  But sadly, as he was talking of cages or cars, I thought about how he was in a cage of his own, trapped into a life that led him to begging on street corners, and losing his ride.  He was in more of a cage than many car owners, but that day I appreciated his warning...and like he said, “they’re out to get you.”  So I do and they are, and he still is, but at least I am riding.  Thankfully, for there but for the grace of God go I.
As my friend tells me his version of the Golden  Rule, He who has the most gold rules, I realize that so many people wish to control me.  Whether it is by money, rules, or laws to regulate me into complete submission, everyone is trying to rule over some one, just not themselves.  And it reminded me of many trips, spontaneous rides I have taken, just getting on my motorcycle and heading somewhere, with no destination in mind.  No one telling me where to go or when to be home.  The kind where time didn’t matter, as long as I had enough money for gas, a jacket for the cold, and a road ahead.  Just like a travel agent once remarked, after spending his whole life planning for others, but neglecting himself, “travel got boring, so I decided to travel.”  He finally got it, and no better way than on a bike with maybe a friend who gets it, but if none available, alone is just fine.  You see for some they find solace in $200/hour therapist, for those of us who ride there is motorcycles.  Give me the $200 and I can have quite a time, even a weekend, I can air out, clear my mind, and go places and be things no therapist could advise.  And one Saturday ride 40 years ago sticks out, for no particular reason, other than it defines cycle therapy.. Call it “cycle-logical,” if you have ever taken one you know what I mean.
BH and I were out looking for fun, and RT. 100 in Pennsylvania called out to us.  We had seen the exit for it by the Schaeffer Beer brewery man times, but thought more of the beer than the road in those days.  But today was different, and the road twisted, turned, and rode through mile after mile of corn fields, rising and falling like only a Pennsylvania farm road can.  Every once in a while an old inn or café/general store, and a cold Sasparilla in Pennsylvania Dutch country is what is needed to quench the thirst, after a huge pretzel of course.  But true to form, we met other riders, doing what we were doing, and soon we were farther away from home than we anticipated, but that was OK, now it was all about the ride.  And soon we started approaching Philadelphia as it got dark, and soon the fields had turned to urban blight, as we had hit the ghetto-no place for two white boys to be on a hot summer night.  Where is the dreaded freeway that we usually try to avoid when we need it?  And why when you are lost, is every light red, and every stranger a possible bad encounter?  But you are never lost as long as you are not out of gas.  Our ride of airing out how turned into a nightmare, especially after I hit a huge pothole, knocking the headlight out of its shell.  And having to fix it on a sidewalk, where a group of kids wondered what was that weird biker doing to his bike?  Shouldn’t that be fixed at home, in the light?  But riding on we did, and arrived home, safe, fresh, and refreshed, less than 90 miles from home, and it only took us 300 miles to get there!  Two tanks of gas, some hot dogs, pretzels, and sasparilla-what could be a better day?  Free of all who want to control us, and free to ride again. And again.  Free from any cages, and it all came back due to the homeless guy and his warning about cages.  How could such a down and out man have so much wisdom?   Or didn’t he even know it?
The word religion means bound, like tied up and bound, denying you freedom.  And since becoming a Christian, I have come to hate it when people refer to me as religious.  I am free, just as Jesus promises, being free in the spirit.  Anything but religious.  Jesus was not religious, that’s why the Pharisees hated Him.  Which really annoys those who are religious, and try to control us with their rules.  It’s like a man once told us in a Bible study, “tonight we are going to study freedom in the spirit, here are the rules.”  I wanted to scream, rules?  We don’t need no stinkin’ rules!  We need Jesus!  Rules or the law only pointed out our sin, and was all about our performance-grace is all about  Jesus and His performance on the cross.  “Lookout for cages,” He would have warned His friends, and for those who wish to control you.  Let’s make it personal-you and me, and enjoy the freedom to be yourself.  No wonder the Pharisees hated Him, they were so bound up in their rules they had no peace at all.  Over 600 laws, and any one they broke could bring them shame and discipline.  They needed Jesus!  Not the kind of God I wish to serve, and not the kind of God who wishes to serve me.  Curves, He leans with me.  Straights, He accelerates with me.  Brakes-He is there with me, and when my headlight falls out, is there to light the way.  Better than a cold sasparilla on a hot day.  With or without ice-your choice.  So why would anyone want to be religious when you can be free?
But with freedom comes responsibility, maybe that’s it.  Some need to be led, and enjoy not being responsible.  Like Nitro tells me, “a horse can be led to water, but a pencil must be lead.” But God tells us that He who has much, much is required.  Freedom requires responsibility.  An uncommon sense of common, and a love of God to guide you.  Not control you, but once you know Him, you find yourself thinking in His terms, rather than your own, and soon they become your own.  Freedom in the spirit-and to ride.
So for some there is religion, just like some need therapy.  They need to be told what, where, when , and how to act.  Jesus, likes motorcycles, gives us a freedom to be ourselves.  The religious call it boldness, we call it freedom and love.  Have you ever been accused of being to bold in Christ?  Maybe you need to let your freedom in Jesus shine more.  Make Him part of your life, be a witness instead of going out witnessing. So for those of us who ride and have Jesus, we don’t need therapy.  We are free, and like the scripture says, “he who is free is free indeed.”  Free to ride the back roads and end up in a ghetto.  Free to follow a road, just wondering where it goes.  And free to get to know the God who created the universe one to one, personally.  So He calls us friends, when is the last time you just went for a ride with your friend?  Jesus set us free from the cage of sin-look out for cages, they’re out to get you.  Wise advice from a man who was homeless, and it works even better with a man who spent His life on the road-Jesus.  Your hour is up, that will be $200 please?  For some there is therapy, for the rest motorcycles. Just don’t call me religious.  And don’t forget to bring an extra helmet along, just in case.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com