As a biker, when riding I am always scanning ahead, behind, and to both
sides of me, planning escape routes if needed. Last Wednesday I am cruising
down I-15, staying with traffic at 80, when a black car, a CLS 500, appears in
my mirrors, coming up fast. I am in the far left lane, with nowhere to go, and
as he comes up, swerves across three lanes, his active body control barely
keeping his wheels planted, he must be going at lest 100 mph. Then cuts back
across barely missing minivans, SUV’s and other smaller vehicles. Not uncommon
on the freeways, but this happened right in front of a CHP motor officer on the
side of the road. Who did nothing. Maybe he was deterred by the two minivans
between he and I, both soccer moms on their cell phones. Three tickets, or
accidents ready to happen. Jon and Ponch would never have let this happen on
their beat. And how many times would you, or have you been busted for lesser
offenses?
Over the years I have had many close encounters with the law,
while riding or driving. I once was ticketed in Illinois in the middle of a
cornfield for 60 in a 55 on my 650 Nighthawk, the sheriff bragged I was the
first ticket in his new patrol car, I just thought he was a jerk. No one in
sight, no cars passed while pulled over, a true threat to other motorists.
Riding across US 60 near Cherokee, Oklahoma, we were stopped on my Tiger doing
85, but was written for only 65. Why would you trust someone in a uniform who
lied, even if it was to give you a break? A real break would be no ticket. But
just a few miles up the road, we stopped and ate BBQ, and when paying mentioned
to the cashier about our ticket. She asked for his name, all I remembered was
he was very young, and she knew him. “No more free meals for him if he’s going
to be ticketing my customers,” maybe the most expensive ticket he ever wrote.
And I‘ll bet she reminded him every time he came in hungry! Justice in a
strange sort of way. But my first ticket was for failure to stay right. I was
only 17, driving my Pinto with brains and Eddie, late at night going down 202
near Flemington. No cars in sight for miles, when the lights came on, my first
encounter with the law since being lawfully licensed. Seems I had been followed
for 10-12 miles, and would switch lanes when there was no traffic, left lane
only for passing. So I got a ticket! Hurt, cheesed off, and pride bruised, we
turned around taking I-78 home. Which was new at the time, only partially open,
and no traffic. When we came upon a car on the side of the road, a couple
dressed formally waving. They had run out of gas, so we gave them a ride to the
nearest station-staying to the right. Then brought them back, gas can in hand.
It took over an hour. And the man tried to give me $20, which would have
covered the ticket, this being 1971. But I refused it, we were doing what our
parents had taught us, to help others in need, no reward needed for just doing
the right thing. And I wonder, where was that cop when they needed him? Maybe
wasting all our time stopping three teens not doing anything wrong. Both our
characters showed that night.
Now if you watch enough flying saucer shows, you know they never
land at the Super Bowl at half time, only in remote areas. These close
encounters always seem isolated, few witnesses, and few who believe the story
afterwards. But like we all know, once cited, it stays on your record, another
reason for insurance companies to raise you rates. Some myth about them
dropping off I heard once, but have never seen. But close encounters are
nothing new, as even two thieves on the cross came face to face with Jesus, one
having his sins forgiven, the other denying the offer of clemency called
salvation. It is written that God keeps no record of our sins, they are as far
as the east is from the west-the two never meet. And our records are purged
clean, no sins recorded, nor remembered to those who are in Christ. As if they
had never happened. Yet we know they have, and although they are forgiven and
forgotten by God, why do we still remember some of them? Why aren’t our
memories wiped clean like God’s? Maybe we need to look to the cross, and
remember the battle Jesus won there. Nails in his hands, and feet, scars He
will bear forever reminding us of the battle He won, and how He conquered sin
for us. But we see His scars, why do we need to see the scars in our memory if
we are forgiven? Perhaps it is because we forget, we forget what sins Jesus
forgave of ours, and from time to time need to be reminded of that. “Oh, yeah,
I forgot, thanks Jesus. It may have only been a small sin, but all sin is great
before God.” Or maybe it is a big one, and you need that memory fresh to keep
you looking to the cross. Whatever the reason, Jesus knows, and it all works
for His glory, and our blessing. Even that speeding car that almost hit you,
and you wanted revenge on...Jesus reminds us so we can seek forgiveness. Not
that we are unforgiven, but that so the words of our mouth that reflect what is
on our hearts show His mercy, and our humility. So as we always carry about in
our body the dying of Christ, we are reminded of what it took to be forgiven.
And that he keeps it personal.
I am reminded of being stopped while riding with Rex, coming out
of Saguache on the only straight road in Colorado. He got a ticket, I didn’t,
the CSP officer explaining he “got your friend on radar, but didn’t have time to
reset it and track me.” Both riding the same speed, one was cited, the other
forgiven. A just cop, playing by the rules. The same rules he and us would
like to be judged by. And so we find ourselves at the cross again, two
thieves. One accepting forgiveness, one rejecting it. One facing death
forgiven, the other facing judgment. Which we will all face someday. Aren’t
you glad you have a wonderful counselor? One who took the burden? Who will
represent you in the final court, where you will be found not guilty, by
association with Him? One thief didn’t get it, but both had a choice.
The officer in Oklahoma made a bad choice, and it cost him some
free food. And some ridicule, I’m sure. Mercy works both ways, for as you
judge others, you too shall be judged. Show some restraint and mercy to others
today, some compassion. Put down the stones, for none of us is without sin.
But it can be forgiven, without traffic school, or going to court. At the
cross, on the side of the road, or while riding, it is always better to be
forgiven. Close encounters don’t always happen in the open, but the close
encounters with God happen in the heart. What you say about Jesus in public
will tell a lot about an close encounter you may have with Him. The closest
encounter you will ever need. Do you believe? Do you want to? Where will your
next close encounter be? You may only be written for 65, when you were going
85, you still pay. Aren’t you glad you have a judge who sees and knows all?
Who doesn’t fudge when it comes to truth? Character counts-on earth as it is in
heaven. Ride safe....lest we forget.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com