Monday, May 23, 2016

vacate-no vacation without it














As we sat at Oceanside Harbor yesterday, I was amazed at the amount of boats of all shapes and sizes that call it home.  It must be in the hundreds, at least in the dozens, and while a few slips were empty, the majority were full.  And on this beautiful, but windy day, only a few were seen actually out on the water.  An expensive hobby, from purchase, to rental, to upkeep, just to use on high days and holidays.  A lifestyle if you will not for the faint of wallet, as just the upkeep, particularly of those that sit in salt water would be prohibitive to me.  Add the cost of fuel, $300 for a fill up, and my head is spinning, must be sea sickness, or something like it.  And while the only people I saw on the boats still secured were working on them, I wonder how much is labor vs. how much is labor of love.  So I’ll pass on water going crafts, although I still like jet skis, but would never own one.
My neighbor brought his motor home, his RV home last week for its annual smog and tune up, before it goes on a week long trip.  Telling me how economical it is to travel in, he has to spend hundreds for a tune up and safety inspections before he can use it, $200 in gas to leave, and then go sit for another 51 weeks.  Doing the math, say his payment is $500/month, I can hear the sales pitch of how it “only costs less than $18/day to travel in.”  But the payments go on for 365 days/year whether it sits or is used....$6000/year plus license, plus maintenance, plus gas and oil, plus incidentals, and it is very expensive.  Even RV parks have gotten expensive, and I rather spend $100/night for AC and a pool rather than sleep in what I drove in on.  Even at half the rate, would you sleep in your car?  Yet hundreds of thousands of the RV’ers clog the roads each summer.  Driven, or rather guided by those who possess no special license, and many times towing a Prius or other suitable vehicle behind.  Even a Harley or two can be seen on carriers, and the real rich will carry their toy hauler behind.  As I look for a place to pass as they tie up the freedom of the road.  Cousin Eddie lived in one....I rest my case. 
Now although I will never own an RV or a boat, I do get why someone would, and why they do.  But for me and many others, the open road means two wheels, wind in our face, and miles of smiles.  Our chosen mode of escape that can be used any day, not just on vacations.  And although the cost of entry has risen, is nowhere near boats or RV’s.  Less expensive, and even for those that motorcycle camp, a huge cost savings.  But today bikes pull trailers, can weigh over 1000 pounds, and cost over $30,000.  Not a cheap sport any more.  But is it?  Visiting with friends years ago, he had just spent his 500th night in his trailer pulled by his Gold Wing.  His goal was to travel for $1/night and he had accomplished it.  I can see his point, but he didn’t see mine.  I slept in air conditioned comfort, had spent time in the pool and hot tub, watched an old movie on TV, he was hot, sleeping in a tent, surrounded by others like him.  Having to get dressed to go to the bathroom, waiting in line for a shower....public shower.  For my $75 room, who do you think got the better deal?  I don’t get it...maybe I’m not supposed to.  I rather think of other things.
So the cost of entry into recreation can be expensive, no matter what you get out of it.  But just like you need to vacate to be on vacation, you need to recreate in an RV.  What do you dream of 52 weeks a year to spend your 2 weeks off on?  And so we have been counting down the days until we leave on our next trip, 18 and counting.  A new bike this year, a Triumph Tiger 800, the old Tiger retired at over 102,000 miles, and 48 states and Canada.  Its last trip in March, a thousand mile weekend.  And I cannot wait to see how the new one performs.  Only 11 states this time, mostly back roads, and thousands of memories waiting to be made.  What ever the cost of entry will be worth it, and like the RV or boat payments that continue even when not in use, so will my home mortgage.  But we will vacate...our dream of being on the road.  A dream we live every weekend in shorter distances, but always look forward to the big one.  And the people we will meet along the way.
In between the miles, the places, the meals, and the rain, it is the people you meet that make each event.  The conversations, the bench racing, the sharing of trip notes, the meeting those who ride and get it makes the trip.  It will always come down to the people, for no matter how much fun, or not, the ride needs to be shared to be appreciated.  Time spent in prayer when planning, then finally going.  It is all about the people you meet along the way.  A man from Tarsus, Saul, had been a violent persecutor of Christians.  Yet when he met Jesus along the Damascus Road, and his life changed, he needed people to help him.  So God sent two men, named Judas and Ananias, to guide him.  Imagine if God told you to greet a serial killer, a bike club member into your home, because they had been changed by Jesus?  Would you obey the spirit?  When you were first saved, who did God send your way to help?  How many of us experienced the love of Christ via other Christians, giving us hope and support?  Here we see two men with ironic names, Judas who betrayed Christ, no Judas who will guide a new convert, and Ananias, a priest who tried Jesus, to disciple him.  Maybe God does have a sense of humor.  But the key here is praying, as God told these men to pray, to show the love of Christ through them, and he will make the changes.  The first mark of a Christian, prayer, talking to God, and hopefully listening also.  And here we see the persecuted and persecutor having roles switched, the one who hunted now needing sanctuary, the hunted providing it.  Makes no sense, but to God it makes perfect sense.  God told Ananias “you don’t need to fear a man who prays.” 
And so Saul begins to enjoy the Christian life, the joy of Jesus, by those ministering to him.  We never know who we will meet along the road.  But God does.  Whether in a four wheeled wobbly box, or on a 180 hp motorcycle, nothing surprises him.  And he has put Christians on water, in the desert, and in the mountains, who will minister to someone, when the chance shows up.  My friend who spent 500 nights in his trailer spent many around a campfire sharing Jesus.  How many desk clerks can be ministered to by just being nice?  How many boaters throw out the life preserver to many who don’t know they are drowning in sin?  Some hobbies and lifestyles are more expensive than others, but God has put Christians in each one, to go and be the gospel.  So it should come as no surprise who he sent for Saul.  Only we are surprised who God sends, and even more surprised when he sends us.  To some ministering will be laborious, to others a labor of love.  Some will count the costs, some will lay them on Christ.  Some will haul a Harley, some will ride one.  But in each case, we find those who need Jesus, and those who God will send to minister to them.  We count the costs, and although we prefer to travel by motorcycle, the cost benefits are an aside, an added blessing.  Just like the incurred higher costs are an aside to the RV’er, or the boat owner.  Not everything comes down to dollars and sense.  How can you put a price on what Jesus did for us?  Or are you still seeking a cheaper salvation?  Why work for it if it is free to all?  Why sit at home and worry when the road is calling, and the spirit is telling you “you need Jesus?” 
So get out where the Bible comes alive, on the road.  Where Jesus ministered.  Even in a boat, where again Jesus ministered.  Where the action is.  Vacate, not stay cate.  A whole new world of excitement is calling, what is your answer?  Some boats never leave the harbor, some bikes the garage.  Some Christians never leave the church building.  We know who you are, do you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com