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My long departed friend Rex was one of the best all around mechanics I ever
knew. He could diagnose and fix most things, and have them running better in no
time than by the manual. So in his spare he was rewriting the technical manuals
for Suzuki motorcycles, this back in the early 1980’s. Per Suzuki. He could
find problems others didn’t think to look for, on one ride to Arches National
Park, the battery went dead on my KZ750. When it wouldn’t start, Rex noted my
tail light was brighter than he thought it should be, and found my rear brake
pedal adjusted too tight, keeping the brake light on, running down the battery.
A few seconds with a 10 mm wrench, a push start, and trip and bike both fixed.
Needless to say, I check all brake lights on bikes I ride since then. But like
all mechanics I have known since entering the automotive field as an Assistant
Service Manager for Ford, his vehicles were always in need of repair. And older
models, that ran well, just needed a few things. His 1972 Gran Torino took him
regularly between Prescott and Durango, yet it shook so bad at 40 because it
needed a U-joint, which he had in a box at work, but never installed. And
didn’t worry about it, “I just don’t drive 40,” was his reasoning. His XS750
always needed a quart of oil, but always one quart down, heaven help us if we we
didn’t top ours off. But I found that to be more normal, as good techs know
what works, what won’t, and what you better fix right now. Their cars and
motorcycles are always in process, they never have time to work on their own,
probably because they are working on ours at night after work. From Mercedes
Benz to Ford, over 37 years it has never changed. bike or car, truck or RV,
Harley or Honda, it doesn’t matter, they’ll fix it when they get to
it....whenever that may be. And they are always are the ones who never break
down when riding. Meanwhile for those of us who live by the maintenance
schedule, we call guys like Rex and Mickey. Who after the “didn’t I tell you to
fix this,” speech, fix us up, get us going and all is well, until the next
time. Maybe if we rode their vehicles instead of ours.....
And there is the story of the shoemaker, whose kids’ shoes always need
replacing. My girlfriend in high school family owned a shoe store, named
Paula’s Shoes after her. But in all the time I knew her, she only had one pair
of new shoes each year. Maybe function before form, the money saved to be used
on her mother’s weekly appointments at the hair stylist before going out
Saturday nights, never thought to look at her shoes. But like Rex and
motorcycles, she got by just fine, at least her parents didn’t cut back on
clothes. Good thing an uncle didn’t sell dresses. So we see a pattern forming,
or one that has formed, almost to the point of surpassing urban legend status,
and becoming law of the land. Think about the jobs your friends’ fathers had
when growing up, from yards to bikes, from selling cars to fixing them, they
knew how to just get by. Maybe because they were just getting by. Providing
food and clothes for a family, just cautious in the shoe or car department.
After all shoes would wear out anyway, and cars were traded every two years. So
no need to hurry up and wait, there will always be next year. Or the next
ride. But for the rest of us, we kept the system full and operating. Or found
another way to work when our cars broke down.
PK’s, or preacher’s kids, have always had a tough time. Very few I knew
growing up, or even now, turn out as righteous as their parents hope they do.
They have been raised knowing all the rules, making all the sacrifices to not
miss church, to say the right things, and to not embarrass God. Maybe not in
that order, but close. They face extreme peer pressure from church, then at
school, then at home, knowing all the rules, but sometimes breaking them and
getting caught, while larger offenses go unnoticed or unpunished. We are told
to “honor our mother and father,” and it is the first command with a reward.
But we are also told that as parents, we should “not provoke our children to
wrath.” And of course we don’t learn that one until we are parents, it seems we
always have a rule or two to be reminded of when we slip up, how nice those who
remind us always do it in love. Or so they say. But we are told in Romans 8,
to have our mind set on the spirit. Which is hard enough after being told right
from wrong continuously. And when the spirit comes in conflict with the law,
who generally wins? The law, as it spelled out right there, the spirit
sometimes means taking a chance. And will only be known by you and God, leaving
others to judge. Many times wrong. But Paul is reaching deeper, but not so
deep we cannot get it when he writes this. For although it is the flesh vs. the
spirit, it is not the flesh vs. the law. And without the spirit, we will fail,
and not know it.
Fun, making money, and living life may be against some interpretation of
the law, but are not wrong in themselves. But if they are all you live for,
then they are. It is OK to have fun, make money, and enjoy life, just not at
the expense of others. Proverbs is filled with many examples of good advice.
Living in the spirit means that above all you seek God first, while showing love
and compassion to others. it is OK to have nice things, just so they don’t own
you. To travel to nice places, just so church is on the list near the top.
Being careful not to ignore God, and honor the creation rather than the
creator. So it comes down to value systems, and just like yuppies know the
price of everything, but don’t know the value of anything, you don’t have to be
a yuppie to sin. You can have fun, ride nice motorcycles, and travel at the
same time as giving glory to God. It is our choice, God first or a new BMW.
Feed the poor, or another new pair of shoes. It is seeing things from God’s
point of view, rather than our own. We must change to God’s ways to see God.
And so he sent Jesus.
I have some Christian friends who think it is not right I ride so many new
bikes, they are jealous. Yet miss the fact that God knows my passion for
motorcycles, and fulfills it. He is the connection to Mickey and Triumph, why
be bitter when you can be better? Your value system changes when you look at it
through God’s eyes, and walk in the spirit. It is a choice...the spirit doesn’t
remove you from life, it puts you back in it. And you find life, whereas before
you knew all the things you shouldn’t do. If your whole relationship with God
is based on rules and regulations, you are under bondage as was a Pharisee. Ask
God to reveal his spirit, it was good enough to lead you to Christ, it will be
good enough to lead you through life. See things from God’s point of view, it
makes all the difference. For the rest, I’ll stand by Groucho’s advice, “I
would never join a club that would have me as a member.” The law. Legalism.
The law convicts, the spirit gives life. It knows when to buy new shoes, or fix
your car. Or your life. God has all the answers you need, if only you listen.
Honor your father today, walk in his spirit. For like the rest of you, I never
met a law I couldn’t break. And only Jesus forgives. In the spirit, gives the
term “stop in the name of the law” a whole new meaning. Only the spirit knows
what works, what doesn’t, and what better be done right now. Pay me now, or pay
me later. Works in life as well as oil filters.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com