Wednesday, April 12, 2017

one afternoon in an off camber parking lot
















From time to time I am given a bike from Triumph that has been a buy back under California’s Lemon Law.  Sometimes to confirm the complaint, sometimes to confirm the repair.  Last summer I was given a like new Tiger Explorer, the big one, with the customer complaint “it loses power momentarily under acceleration,” which the dealer couldn’t fix.  One quick trip around the block confirmed it, but liking the bike, kept it for 1000 miles, just to confirm it.  The problem was there was no problem with the bike, it was either the dealer, not uncommon, or the owner who will never admit to their failure.  But in fact, the bike was doing exactly what it was trained to do, when the traction control was on, and it sensed rear wheel slippage, it cut out power momentarily.  Something easily duplicated, even my wife’s Mustang with traction control will not spin the tires, but with it off, whoopee!  The owner didn’t know or hadn’t been told how the traction control worked, and had it replaced with another one of the same model.  Which will do the same thing!  By not knowing or being told or opening up his owner’s manual, he will be faced with another bike that is running as it should, and reacting as it should under the circumstances.  He will always fault the bike which isn’t the problem.  A lesson to all until it happens to you...
We were riding our new touring bike, a 2015 Tiger 800, and decided to ride up to Oak Glen for the afternoon.  Knowing it was a magnet for traffic and parking, we felt safe on the bike, knowing we can navigate where other cage bound drivers cannot.  And all went well until we encountered the off camber parking lot.  The signs were there, the rows of mini vans parked askew, funny how when one parks out of line, the others feel a responsibility to follow suit.  It was off camber, leaning the wrong way, meaning I had to park uphill against the hill, and it had pea gravel.  Any one could mean disaster, but together get out the iodine and bandages.  We had walked the ground after I felt I had parked safely, and when going to leave had underestimated the skill it would take in leaving.  Trying to balance the wrong way on little stones on two wheels is hard, going up hill is harder, and when the traction kicks in, you look like an idiot.  Every time my rear wheel would slip, the motor cut out, and every time it did, it seemed the viewing audience grew.  And after losing count of how many on/off and on again starts, I finally made it.  Switching off the traction control would have made the ride out easy, one burn out and off I would have gone.  A simple solution to a self induced wound and I know better.  Which was only compounded when reminded by Theresa “why didn’t you just coast down the hill and go out the other exit?” 
So beware of off camber parking lots, and people who think they know what they are doing.  Stupid know no boundaries, and is an equal opportunity employer.  Always looking for another victim.  Happens to Christians too, when we are caught off guard and react differently than we know to.  Or were trained to, or as we do in church.  We go along doing the things we are taught, assuming they are right, until faced with a situation, and react differently.  And of course, the accuser or well meaning brother would never have acted that way in a similar situation.  After all, he’s a Christian and has all the answers.  Sadly he never has been in a situation where he lost traction, at least that he will admit.  He attends the right church, drives the right car, listens to the right radio stations, has lunch with the pastor, has been to Israel, gives to missions, and his kids raised in the church are almost as perfect.  Perfection being his biggest flaw, for his life is not real.  And dealing with these idiots, sorry they are, until they face a situation where they cannot control it, and must trust God, are all talk.  They live an off camber life with reality, and miss out on the things of God in their ordered world.  They don’t suffer, and when others do they must be in sin.  Or out of fellowship, not in the word, or not studying enough to be approved.  God sees things differently, and in Malachi refers to the trials we endure as perfecting us.  As silver is heated, the impurities rise to the top and are skimmed off, repeatedly until the silver smith can see his reflection in the liquid.  The clearer the reflection, the purer the refinement.  It takes years in our lives to be changed, and only in death will we become perfect.  To those of us who cannot see clearly, it is refreshing to know our problems are working out in our favor, and perfecting us.  And why God has installed a spiritual traction control in our lives so that when we are about to skid off the road, we are warned, and saved.  But like cars and bikes, it can be over ridden or turned off, and we can skid and burnout when least expected. 
I find it even more interesting this was written some 1500 years before mirrors were invented.  Maybe if Lot’s wife had a mirror she might not have looked back.  But where you look you will follow, and we are going forward, losing traction and balance, but regaining it by God’s love, by Jesus’ forgiveness.  We fail, he never does, yet when we don’t get our own way, we try other sources to ease the pain, when all we have it already there for us in the form of the holy spirit.  Losing traction, life out of control, quit spinning your wheels.  God has everything under control, it is the throttle hand of your heart that controls how you react.  Too much brake or throttle, you stoppie or wheelie.  But power under control, meekness, allows a smooth take off, smooth acceleration,and better times, both on and off the clock.  You can be ignorant and not know, or know and still spin out like I did, either way you’re gonna crash sooner or later. 
In every trial you get a chance to experience Christ personally.  To be refined by fire, to have the impurities removed from your life.  I should have known better than to park where I did, and even should have known to turn off the traction control on the rocks.  Only in the midst of it did I remember, but I was out by then.  God will take you through the fire, the the parking lot, and show a way out you didn’t know existed.  All the time spending time with you that you wouldn’t have.  All things work together to those who love the Lord, and when Jesus is your Lord, you have fulfilled his purpose for you.  You now have the keys to ride with him.....
So don’t spend the time or your ride in just church or a parking lot.  Get out and live what you have been taught, to prove God right and all men liars.  To maybe lose control and fall back on Jesus, to trust him as you never have before.  Twist your spiritual throttle and see all the Jesus you can.  Read the book, address the problem, let God be God, and enjoy the ride.  Funny, I cannot remember anything else about the day, only losing traction.  Despite all my years of riding and skills, a momentary lapse of judgment almost cost me.  Don’t make the same mistake, learn from mine.  And foremost remember that after fiery trials, the silver is priceless.  Pure.  Or you can buy Tanzanite for a lot less....some only want the sparkle, they miss the time spent with the master craftsman.  Who does your life reflect?  You may be surprised when you look in your mirror.  Snow White was....if only she had  listened to the dwarfs....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com