Tuesday, May 28, 2013

what good is fun if you don't enjoy it?







In a perfect world, we would all ride motorcycles. But judging from today’s news, and past news, this world is anything but perfect, which may explain why motorcycles do not dominate yet. I read one man’s opinion on this perfect world the other day, and he made the preposterous comment that “no one needs to ride a motorcycle!” Of which I can point him to millions of us who do, but that was not his point. He was pointing out how unique and different those of us who ride are, you see we don’t need to ride, we want to ride. We live in a world dominated by cars, but yet we choose to ride motorcycles. And his number one reason for us riding was that it is fun, hard to fault that reasoning. And it is, would we ride if it wasn’t? Transportation taken at its root meaning can be boring, who gets up every morning to ride the bus, aka the loser cruiser? Ever hear anyone say, “oh boy I get to ride the subway today?” Or look forward to being packed into an airplane, after being searched, and then treated rudely? Expensive too, parking is ridiculous. Yet how many have waited all winter just to ride to work on their motorcycle? And with each sunny day, the temptation to ride gets worse, or is that better?
From scooters to dressers, from Ninjas to GSXR’s, those who ride find a certain joy in it. Twisting the throttle and watching the speed build reminds us why we ride. Of course cruising up the commuter lane while traffic is backed up on 15 is good enough reinforcement for today’s ride too. White lining when the lanes are available speeds the journey. Can’t find a place to fit your car, maybe that is why you don’t see bikes cruising the parking lots, we can take a half space and make it work, leaving a full one for you. I can fill up faster, even my largest tank is just 6.3 gallons, under $25 at today’s rip off prices, the thought of an $80 gas bill, per fill up scares me. It is bad enough to spend that much each month! Hey car owner, having fun yet? We are...we have our motors running, and we are out on the highway!
Yet some fight the temptation of fun, and of being cool, with excuses. Car pools-my kids loved to get a ride to school on my motorcycle, their friends thought it cool too. And when I went to Riley’s Grandparent’s Day, I was the California Grandpa, mine was the only bike, and her teacher said I was the coolest grandfather there. So there, Mr. SUV! And I parked close to the school, in my half space so all the others could see! And many looked, wishing they had, or even could. And I am happy to take on all those who don’t feel motorcycling is a great family event. It brings fathers and sons, and daughters together, teaching them how to ride, how to maintain, and then spending time together. More fun than putting a DVD screen in front of your child, and talking on your cell. You are missing many father/son times when you could be riding. Moms and daughters too. Great times together, building values that your kids will pass on to their kids. Taking trips that they will always remember. Like when Christopher was 9, he rode to Canada with me on the back of my FJ1100. I didn’t realize how much fun he had, until his friend was bragging about how his dad took him fishing, another good father/son activity. But he won the argument, simply by saying, “my Dad took me to Canada on his motorcycle.” And today he still rides! Like two old sayings, cut your own wood and you are warmed twice, and give a man a fish and he is fed today, teach him to fish and he can feed himself tomorrow, teach your kids to ride, spend time with them, and they will ride tomorrow. Having fun...and what good is fun if you don’t enjoy it? Throttle hand itchy, having fun yet?
In a perfect world, we would be having fun all the time. No sin, pain, anger, worries, or fear. We will be in the presence of Jesus-nothing else will matter. And you don’t have to wait for an afterlife, they call it after death on earth, to enjoy the benefits. As soon as you accept Jesus, heaven starts here on earth. True, there still will be cars, jobs, sin, taxes, anger, and the fears of daily life, but you don’t have to participate in them. Scripture tells us “on earth, as it is in heaven,” right now we are in the “on earth” part, with the heaven to come, but its promises can be had here today. Remove the fear of death, and life becomes livable. Remove fear, anger, and SUV’s from the road, it just got better. Spend time with Jesus, in groups at church, or Wednesday night studies, and find fellowship. Spend time reading the Bible, and your attitude to issues is different. Spend time in prayer, and then listen to what God has to say, and you have a fresh attitude. But you need to twist the throttle, to get out and ride with Him, maybe not on a motorcycle, highly preferred, but get out of the traffic jam of life. Dare to enjoy life in Christ, and watch as it becomes contagious, and fun can spread to others. Watch as while others worry, you are enjoying life. The situations may be the same, but you have a confidence in Christ that makes the difference. He finds you the parking places, negotiates you around traffic jams in life, leads you not into temptation. He not only builds family values, He is family values, and encourages you in things. He promises abundance of joy, but you must follow Him. It may take you trusting Him in a tough situation, or getting out of your uncomfortable zone and into His comfort zone-in the spirit! But it takes opening up the garage door of your life, and pointing your ride to the highway. Or you can still be stuck in traffic in your SUV, trying to talk on your cell over your kid’s DVD? What message are you sending? What message are they hearing? Think of the fun you could have when saving $70-80 dollars per fill up? And suddenly this perfect world...
Those of us who know Christ and ride know a freedom you must experience. Like grace, it has to be experienced, you cannot explain it. And it is available right now, even in your car. Rather than hiding behind four doors and a windshield, you can have the fresh air in your face while looking ahead, experiencing freedom in the spirit. You can pass the SUV that you used to be in, and pray for that person. You can be enjoying life to its fullest here on earth, preparing for heaven. You can be out among God’s creations with your kids and wife-yes, wives ride too, and be the family that others wish to be. And it is all available in Jesus-so to paraphrase Ringo, “step out of your car, and into His life... be His angel divine...”you’re beautiful and you’re His! And how do you spot this family? They all have helmet head, hairdo by motorcycle, beats sitting under a hair dryer any day.
No one needs to ride a motorcycle, yet we want to. We want that freedom, to enjoy life to its fullest. And it come close, but nothing compares to knowing Jesus. In a perfect world, there is only Jesus. But for now, we have to share Him. Get out and share Him today, and see what happens when two perfect worlds collide. Jesus and motorcycles, it just don’t get any better! Having fun yet?
love with compassion,
Mikematthew25biker.blogspot.com