While I was asleep last night, the skies opened and it rained. Not much,
but a lot by So Cal standards. And if it doesn’t clear up, it may be a day
spent in a cage, taking the truck. Now to someone who doesn’t ride that may be
no big deal, but today that will mean no HOV lane for me, no lane splitting, and
taking much longer to get where I am going. Every other place I have lived
drivers deal with the weather, rain and snow are no big things. But not here, 5
drops hit the ground and it is like the roads become a stupid farm that just got
its nourishment and stupid is in full bloom. Those who would travel 80 on the
freeway now do it at 45, cell phone still clutched in their hand so they can
tell of their adventure. Every commute will have a story to tell by the time
they arrive at their destination, and soon the .01” of rain, mist on the
windshield for most, will have turned into a torrential downpour, the record
rain of the century, and they were barely alive making it to work. “Wow,” their
friends will exclaim,”that must have been scary,” and they will nod and agree,
basking in their conquest of rain. With Instagram photos to follow, and the
rain of September 2016 will go down in history. To be shared to the next
generation, “wow, you were there, what was it really like?”
But what do bikers do when it rains? Either we cage it or we get wet. And
I have too many miles logged from riding in the rain. Short trips I’ll take the
truck, the 4 hours to clean up after just aren’t worth it. But on any trip
longer, with a short range forecast of rain, on go the rain suits, and off we
ride. Now rain suits provide an interesting form of security, it can be pouring
out, face shield fogged, but inside you are dry and secure. Can’t explain it,
but it feels good after awhile. And after a few miles, you become used to the
conditions and ride with it. Driving even more carefully so you don’t become
Ms. SUV’s next Instagram hit, when they hit you. Roads get slippery, it takes
longer to stop, but most guys I know who ride, will ride in the rain. No big
deal. But then there are the weather wusses.
A man at church brags how he doesn’t ride below 60, too cold. Chaps and
leathers in the 60’s. But his bike is always clean, the miles low, and he
thinks he is a rider. Think of him like Goldilocks, not to cool, not so hot
either. But as the Bible assures us, the rain will fall on the just and the
unjust. And into each life a little rain must fall. Fortunately Jesus promises
us “this too shall pass.” And there is nothing like the sun breaking through
after riding in the rain, taking off the rain suit and continuing on. One such
ride occurred across Oklahoma....
Flash floods are called flash floods become they happen in a flash, and
turn low lying areas into flowing rivers. I had been dodging rain across
Arkansas and Missouri, when getting gas outside Clinton it was dark ahead. Now
I use any excuse to not put on my rain suit, and today was no exception. But
after getting back on I-40, and a Fed-Ex tractor trailer pulling doubles began
to sway in the wind, I hit the next exit and on it went. Feeling safe and
secure and dry, I rode on, until the rain fell so hard I couldn’t see, so I got
off. Now the highway department has spent millions of dollars on signs to warn
us, the key is obeying them. That day I rode without the key, and at the first
light, at a diagonal intersection, off camber, the sign said “DO NOT ENTER IF
WATER RUNNING.” So when the light turned red, and no traffic appeared, off I
went. Not taking into account why there was no traffic and why the sign was
posted. Halfway across I was up to the Triumph on my Tiger, some 36” off the
ground. Almost covering the pipe. Up to my knees. Now instinct tells you to
stop, the same one that told you to go. But don’t, on both. And so I kept
going, and made it across, only to find fast running water for the next mile or
so. Until the Route 66 Museum appeared, the lot filled with motorcycles, and I
took a break. I was safe, dry on the inside except for the heavy downpour of
sweat, and alive to ride again later. Which I did, the last 150 miles in high
crosswinds, rain is safer, and the temp dropping some 30 degrees. Both bike and
rider were safe, we had weathered the storm, and sunshine never looked so good.
If only the wind wasn’t blowing...
In any storm, in any situation, we rarely know how long it will last.
Although I could see blue skies ahead, on the prairie they could be 100 miles
away. So it is important to deal with what we are confronted with first, then
deal with later, later on. Seeing the sun, I already had my rain suit off, and
felt the 80 degree day warming me up, I just couldn’t see the wind. But God
did. And so it is important to deal with first things first, and don’t wait too
long to put on your rain suit, or look to take it off before the rain stops.
God has supplied us with what we need for each situation, it is up to us to use
it. When the sign says flooding, that should be enough for most, the signs are
there for our safety. By not obeying them we become members of the “I’ll show
You I am Stupid Club,” sadly I still attend too many of their meetings. But God
provides way through the storms, not around them, and there are times to ride
on, times to stop and rest, and times to take an alternate route. All best
dealt with in prayer as you are riding. Situations and road conditions change,
Jesus never does. And when guided by his spirit, we will arrive, with the
testimony of how he took us through the storm, a slightly different version than
Ms. SUV’s harrowing experience. And we must confess that with the spirit
guiding us, even if it takes dragging us through kicking and screaming, we will
make it to the other side.
Remember Jesus telling his disciples how he would meet them on the other
side? And in the midst of the storm, when Peter obeyed Jesus and walked to him,
after Jesus saved him, they were instantly on the other side. Peter’s request,
“Jesus save me!” A two pronged prayer, for we must be saved from our sin, and
saved from dangerous situations. And in both cases we will meet Jesus on the
other side, just like he said. Heaven or our temporary destination. Heaven,
the other side. Safe and secure after the storms of life. Allowing us to look
back and share how he saved us. And when Jesus tells us we are saved by the
word of our testimony and the blood of the lamb, he has done his part, are you
sharing, are you doing yours? It is a rare conversation the spirit doesn’t
remind me of how he took me through a similiar one, and gives me a chance to
share it. Again, Jesus did his part...
So what do bikers do on rainy days? Well this biker is getting out the
maps, and planning next years trip. When you cannot ride, plan. When you
cannot ride, pray. Spend some time with the Lord, it is great while riding, but
can be just as personal off the bike too. Ask the Lord for planning strategies,
let him guide your footsteps. And be flexible in your planning, I still ride in
the rain, the 4 hours cleaning up after can be better spent planning, or
listening to the Lord. He will meet us on the other side eventually, how we get
there is our choice. Make the right choice and follow the spirit. And if it
rains, put on your rain suit before the rain begins. Putting it on over wet
clothes is harder, don’t ask me how I know. I just do.
So what do bikers do when it rains? We get wet....but we still ride.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com