My first ticket was for failure to stay right. Only in New Jersey at 2am
in the morning would a State Policeman pull over 3 high school kids in a Pinto
and write a ticket. On a deserted highway. Ever been cut off by Ms. SUV
cutting across 3 lanes then texting at 50 mph in the fast lane? While under the
influence of cell phone? And if you honk, she thinks you are a rager! Yet our
freeways are among the safest places in the world to drive-go figure. Parking
lots are the worst, particularly our COSTCO, where mini-vans seek to hit you,
Navy retirees clog lanes, rather than walk two additional spaces, and loose
carts always seem pointed at my truck. Just another 20 feet and you could store
them where the receptacle is, maybe they are in a hurry to get out in the left
lane and go slow. And as anyone who ever learned to ride a motorcycle knows,
the most dangerous place to learn to ride is a parking lot. The scene of too
many disasters, even when empty.
But once you make it to the freeways, speed may be irrelevant, as AAA
published years ago the average speed in LA freeways was 17 mph. You make
better time in COSTCO’s parking lot. Years ago when only visiting our state, I
had ridden up to Anaheim checking out new bikes. Coming home on the 405 south,
traffic moved at 70mph in this still 55mph wonderland, except for the center
lane. It was backed up for miles, so much I started counting the cars I
passed. After 30 I concentrated more on what was ahead, as the Orange Crush,
where the 5 and 405 meet was just ahead. Looking over I saw the end of the
traffic backup, and looked over to see who was the perpetrator, it was my Father
in law. Going all of 50, he waved, and I wondered, as happy and slow as he was,
why were all the others following behind in his lane, when three others were
available?
On a trip through Tennessee many years later the answer was not to be
found. Heading east on I-40, a sign warned “lane ends in 30 miles” and cars and
semi trucks were already merging causing a traffic jam. So I kept on in the
right lane, all but empty for 30 miles, while people honked and yelled while I
passed. I still don’t get that one, and I have been involved in it two times
now...must be a state thing or something. It seems each group of drivers has
its own set of rules, some you find out on the road, some stuck on the road, and
some on the side of the road. Or in a parking lot. At least they are
consistent.
Over the years I tend to ride consistently, to maintain a steady speed. I
can fill up, water a lemon tree, and eat a Baby Ruth in about 15 minutes, be
fully refreshed and ready to ride again. Yet some take 3 or 4 times as long.
Think of it like this, at 80 miles ridden in one hour, you average 80 mph.
Simple public school math. But stop and rest for 30 minutes, you have only
travelled 80 miles in 90 minutes, dropping your average speed down to 54mph. No
wonder some get home late, or miss CHiP’s on TV. Who wants to spend a good part
of their life in a gas station? Same with guys in the gym 10 hours a week,
times 52 weeks=520 hours, or 13 weeks a year sweating. Not for me. I rather
have a 13 week road trip. Where we spend our time on earth can be very telling,
and disturbing if we sit and analyze it.
Frank and I decided years ago that if we have to sit somewhere, we choose
to sit behind bars, handlebars. Clear road ahead, places to go and see, and
people to meet. Yes I probably watch too much TV, spend too much time dodging
SUV’s and retirees at COSTCO, but give me the open road any time. Every time.
Right now seems a good time. Yet finding the time seems difficult, and when we
do, we tend to hurry to get there, and wait in line. Think of Disneyland as a
theme park of waiting in line for 45 minutes, with a 5 minute ride reward. At
the end of a ten hour visit, you spent 50 minutes riding, and over 9 hours in
line. Suddenly 17 mph in LA seems quick. Just not as quick as a parking lot.
And all for less than $100. Give me the money, the time, the road, and I am out
of town. Empty roads, polite people, grass and trees, and less stress. Two
wheels preferred, a cage if you absolutely must. The road the destination, when
you get there your decision.
An acute observation shows that Jesus never rushed. And was never late.
Remember Lazarus and Jesus taking his time, at least to his sisters? It was to
show resurrection power. Why did he wait and heal the blind man from birth
after many years? To show his healing power, and that no one else could get the
credit. Some wise sage long ago claimed “he isn’t always there when I want him,
but always there when I need him.” Half right, he is always there, he never
leaves. And so we have him riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, tried the next
Thursday, crucified Friday, and risen on Sunday. All in God’s timing. Just as
the scriptures predicted. When he said “it is finished,” it was, not a minute
sooner. Or later. His timing is perfect, we get a little too slow, or too
fast. Somehow when we honor him, we get where we need to be, when he wants us
there. Even if you are stuck behind somebody’s relative in the middle lane. Or
hurry to change lanes before it ends in 30 miles. Jesus knows...if only we
did.
He knows where the time goes, some sweating, some texting, some riding.
God knows, and we can too, it is called prayer. Too many wait and look for an
escape route, when if we asked and obeyed we might not get stuck. But no matter
what, Jesus is with us. If only he could ride in the commuter lane with you.
“You see officer, Jesus is always with me,and although the car looks empty, he
is here.” After the breath test, call your attorney. But know he is with you,
the holy spirit sent to guide you. Comfort you. And show you the mysteries of
the cross. It is all about Jesus.
More than the old country western song “I don’t care if it rains or
freezes, just as long as I got my plastic Jesus, right on the dashboard of my
car...” He is real. Today is Good Friday, celebrate what he did on the cross.
Pick up your cross and follow him. Bungee it on the back of your bike if you
must, but follow. Celebrate Easter, and his resurrection, as we will someday be
resurrected. And don’t worry if you are dead in sin, only something that has
been dead can be resurrected, and only Jesus can give life. Seek him and live
today. As far as time goes, we are not promised tomorrow, and today is the day
of salvation for many.
We ride to finish. We race to finish. We live to finish, but to finish
first, first we must finish. Life is an endurance race, not a 1/4 mile drag.
Where you spend it is up to you. Also who you spend it with. Jesus spent much
of his life on the road, the highway. Where the people are, where the action
is. At 17 or at 80, he keeps up. Can you? Will you? Keep in mind our final
destination, it somehow makes the ride all worth while.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com