The Honda of all Hondas, Soichiro Honda, once commented “how could a person
buying a motorcycle know what he wanted if it wasn’t in terms of the known and
available?” How could someone want something he didn’t know existed? Point
well taken, as his 750 Four brought us 4 cylinder inline engines, disc
brakes,and reliability. The Gold Wing is the premier touring bike. But others
lead us too, like the Triumph Bonneville gas tank, shapely and elegant. Harley
showed us that slow and unreliable could be a success when mated to an image.
The modern sportbike was born in 1985 by Suzuki with the GSXR, with full
fairing, clip ons, and light weight. From the track to the street. Built
around Mr. Honda’s 4 cylinder, the sport bike that started it all. The BMW R90S
started the sport bike revolution with low bars, twin disc brakes, light weight
and a bikini fairing. Their GS started the modern adventure bike market, all
others to follow. All bikes we may have dreamed of, but didn’t know we wanted
until they became available. From concept to market to garage, no wonder Honda
is so big today.
What engine is more American than the V-8, made available to the masses by
Henry Ford in 1932. Later Chevy made the V-8 iconic in its small block, the
most popular engine ever built. Just how different was the Corvette in 1953?
No other American manufacturer made a two seat sports car, and no others do
today. The Mustang invented the Pony Car, no not telling a Camaro or Mustang,
they have always been what they are. When Ford added rear seats to it iconic
T-Bird in 1958, it started the personal luxury car, which brought us the Lincoln
Mark series, Buick Riviera, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Chrysler Cordoba. Big
engines in small bodies were no big deal, until John De Lorean put one in a
Pontiac Tempest creating the Muscle Car market with the GTO. SS454, Buick GSX,
Boss Mustang, Plymouth Road Runner, and Olds 442 all owe their legacy to that
one car. Front wheel drive, in a luxury car? Thank Oldsmobile for its
Toronado, followed by the Cadillac Eldorado. No mistaking either car for what
it was. Or is today. And maybe that is a common theme also, we have no problem
identifying these cars or motorcycles today. A Triumph sounds like a Triumph,
a Harley like a Harley,and an inline four sounds Japanese. Ducatis sound
unique, as do the thumpers used in motocross. All ideas in some imagination,
until someone put them on paper, and into production. If you don’t think these
examples were important, you must live in the world of a 4 door sedan-boring.
Even today’s SUV’s were station wagon based, just put on a truck chassis. Maybe
the exception to the rule that some ideas are better left not expressed. But
all the above, SUV’s included were different by design. Differently marketed,
and proved Mr. Honda right, we don’t know what we want if it is not available.
Those who brought these to market made them known, and made them desirable. To
these men I say “thanks,” for I cannot imagine a world without fast
motorcycles, fast cars, and as I get older personal luxury. Interestingly among
my six motorcycles, there are six different engine sizes, with 2, 3, or 4
cylinders. From adventure to sport to touring, to the Universal Japanese
Motorcycle, UJM, the 1978 Suzuki GS1000, the grandfather of the GSXR’s. Maybe I
have been influenced more than I know, or will admit.
No one I have ever met, or heard of, woke up one morning and decided to
find God. “Yup, today I am going to find something invisible, intangible, and
to some unimaginable.” Never heard it put that way. But yet God is real, and
wants to have a relationship with us, so calls us back through Jesus via the
Holy Spirit. Without the spirit we would not have sought after God, we would
have no faith to seek Jesus, and the words in the Bible would be just that-words
with no meaning or power. But thanks to the spirit, we have been given life,
and the direction to get back to God. When sin separated us, no amount of
sacrifice would do, it took a life for a life. The spirit tells us that. How
would we know we wanted God if the spirit hadn’t made him known and available?
Simply put you wouldn’t. For God is more than a concept, a new model, an idea
sprung to life from a fertile mind, he is God. He is the creator of all the
universe, and along with the spirit, we are led back to him through Jesus.
Called if you would, with one simple provision left to us. It is our choice how
we answer the spirit’s calling. We can say yes to Jesus, or no. For love does
not demand its own way. And God made it easy. There is only one God, only one
way to him through Jesus, and only his spirit will guide you to him. When he
calls his son begotten, he means unique. To be followed, to be led by.
Yet many counterfeits are there led by wrong or evil spirits. Only God has
placed a God shaped vacuum in you that only he can fill. And without the spirit
you would not know we wanted God, or know we need Jesus. Mr. Honda’s analogy is
more far reaching than you think, and God was around long before Mr. H,
something to consider. We are different by design, no two alike, and all have
sinned before God. And Jesus is the way back. Reliable, available, loving and
kind. The desire of every heart, and yet we all take different paths to get
there. Different rides if you will, but there is only one true God. Do no t be
misled, allow yourself to be led by the spirit. Be comforted, fed, nourished,
and saved. No other religion or God offers what Jesus does. Don’t limit God,
and you will not be limiting yourself. We dream of heaven, yet only Jesus makes
it possible. We pray for healing, he is the great physician. We pray for
needs, he is the great provider. And we need a savior, he is the only one who
can save our souls.
We don’t know what we want or need. We only guess. The spirit guides and
brings life. We all can use a little more life. Find it in the spirit of the
Lord. Watch as the scriptures come alive with him, as you prayer life changes
when guided by him, and how heaven awaits now that you believe. All because God
sent his son to die for us because he loved us. Encouraged by the spirit. If
you are still seeking, it is the spirit that is calling you, say yes to him
today, and yes to Jesus. We never know what we want, and only in the spirit we
will find that the something is really a someone. Wake up today to God and his
spirit. His son is waiting to hear from you. And your answer is......
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com