My touring philosophy is very simple. If you cannot put gas in it,I don’t
want to ride it, and if I cannot ride there, I am not interested in going.
Planes and trains may take you there, but even a vacation on them is still a
long commute. Jammed in with kids, businessmen, families, and others who cannot
wait to get to their destination. While I ride content in the fact that my ride
is a destination, one of many along the way. And so faced with a new
motorcycle, due some vacation time, and Labor Day approaching, I put my
philosophy into practice. I had just bought a new 1984 FJ1100, a left over at a
vastly reduced price, and wanted to put miles on it. The first few days were
local, then my 600 mile service, then the mental and physical break in began. I
needed to stretch my legs, cross a few time zones and see just what this sport
tourer would do, so I decided to visit my grandparents in Pennsylvania, a short
2300 miles from my home in northwest New Mexico. With 10 days to ride and
visit, it was 3 days to get there, 3 to visit, 3 to come back, always the
hardest part of any ride. One to rest. All when the national speed limit was
55mph-on a bike geared for 155! So with my small duffle bag bungeed on, I set
off. Heat, rain, my first 100 miles in one hour stretch in eastern Colorado,
and soon I was there. I had called my grandmother telling her, but we decided
not to tell my grandpa so he wouldn’t worry. And he just happened to be sitting
on his front porch steps when I arrived, he knew it was me even before I turned
around to park, jumping up and running to me. Not bad for a man who had trouble
walking. He was so glad to see me, and excited I had ridden. He is the man in
my family I get my travel bug from, when he was 21 in 1926, he and a friend
hitch hiked across country, before Route 66, before paved roads west of the
Mississippi, and when motels were still a generation away. Sleeping in jails,
getting rides standing on running boards, and working for meals from farms and
families, I come by it honestly. So it should be no surprise he was glad to see
me, startled but not surprised. And for 3 days we all had a great time.
This was a secret we never shared with anyone else, not even family within
3 miles or family 60 miles away. It was a special time for us, a time of
talking, catching up, dressing for dinner, dining at the Colonial Hotel, and
being spoiled for a quick 3 days. It was one of a very few of my rides where
the destination was more important than the ride, but don’t discount the ride
either. It may have been freeway, but going through Virginia and Pennsylvania,
which has the third largest amount of new motorcycle dealers for a reason, made
for great riding. But soon, too soon, it was time to head west, and I almost
did it in 2 days, except for weather, lots of rain, one stretch from Oklahoma
City to Farmington-over 800 miles, in one day. But like my destination in
Pennsylvania, I had a family in New Mexico I missed too, and 9 days away from
them was too much. The miles seem to go faster when returning home, but these
seemed to go on forever. Some would question my sanity, some my devotion to
family. Some my riding a new bike so far so quickly. Some not flying, some
actually going at all. But to me it all seemed the right thing to do. A
question answered that I hadn’t asked myself prior to leaving, but knew after
returning. How far would you ride to surprise a friend? Some answer in days,
or miles...mine is simpler, whatever it takes. Sometimes all it takes is a fast
bike and a destination, this time grandparents and a few days. Some do break in
miles carefully, I do mine by states. And my two week old bike arrived home
safely with just over 6600 miles on it. With me on it. Broke in, not
broken.
The New King James Version mentions the word friend(s) 109 times. In
Exodus we find God talking to Moses as a friend, in 2 Chronicles God is asked if
he was still a friend of Abraham? Proverbs tells us a friend loves at all
times, yet warns later about wealth making many friends and separating the
poor. And reminds us there is one who sticks with us closer than a friend.
Jesus was known as a friend of the poor, lonely, of prostitutes and alcoholics.
He called Lazarus friend that he may go to see him he told others. Later the
Jews would taunt Pilate about him that if you let him go you are not a friend of
Caesar’s. And Paul writes that Abraham was found righteous and called a friend
of God. And James writes that whoever is a friend of the world, is an enemy of
God. God is love, he sent Jesus in love because he loved us. His spirit is
present today to show us love,and to bring us closer to himself, guiding us to
Jesus, who made the way back to our father-God in heaven. How far would you go
to surprise a friend? Yet many refuse to admit or acknowledge just how far
Jesus went for us, to the cross and death. He took the ultimate trip, to the
ultimate destination, and calls us friends. Could we just labor, suffer, ride
one more mile, one more day in his name to show others his love and friendship?
The gospel is good news, both for the sinner and the saint. It is comfort
in the storm, warmth on a cold ride, and a fulfilling meal when hungry. All
shared with God, who came to us in the form of a man and became our friend.
Jesus calls us friend, is he your friend? What is you response when he asks
“why do you call me Lord but don’t do the things I ask?” Are you close enough
to be friends? Are you even friendly?
Again Proverbs advises a man who has friends must be friendly, but there is
a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Some call him master, Lord, rabbi,
or God. But we know him by his first name, just like we do our friends, we call
him Jesus. The friend that sticks closer than a brother. Job endured a
hardship not mentioned much when his friends turned on him, and he had to
discipline and counsel them. He had love for them, all they saw was his misery
and how he must have sinned. Fortunately we have Jesus as a friend, who sees
our misery, and when forgiven no longer sees our sin. He tells us we are his
friends if we follow his commands. Go in his love, his commandment. Maybe if
we live our lives in Christ like John wrote in 3 John, how he longs to see us
face to face soon, and that we should greet our friends by name, and what better
name to be greeted by than Jesus. Who waits for us patiently....
And he understands 3 days on the road, for he arose in 3 days. His
destination heaven, after taking care of his friends. My grandparents were my
close friends,who loved me despite my faults. They forgave me and loved me as I
was. I will never forget the joy in my Grandpa when he jumped seeing me, and
how his love for me overflowed those three days. A special time well worth the
trip. The rain, the police, the cold. So I ask, how far would you ride to
surprise a friend? Your answer may surprise you, it doesn’t Jesus. He loves
you anyway. As a friend. He no longer calls us servants, for a servant doesn’t
know the heart of the master. But now he calls us friends, for all the things
his father has made known to him he makes known to us. He survived the cross,
rising again after three days, he knew where he was going and why. I rode three
days on a trip the same way in love. And while my return trip was bittersweet,
his final return to earth will be joyous. I had family who loved me and I loved
at both ends. Be part of God’s family and find true love. Here and now, there
and later. Life is a break in for life in heaven, ride it with your friend
Jesus. 6000 miles in two weeks may be a quick break in for some, it helps when
you know your destination. Job’s three friends did little to comfort him, only
one can truly comfort. Let the spirit of the living God comfort you today no
matter where or how far you ride. He knows the way, for Jesus is the way. I
got my travel bug from my Grandpa, and my ticket to heaven from Jesus. And find
out how really far a true friend will go to surprise you. For even while we were
yet sinners, he died for us. How far would your ride to surprise an enemy?
Only in Jesus will you ever know....don’t wait for a new bike to take the
trip.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com