I didn’t realize it at the time, but this was the sixth straight summer
that I had ridden cross country via Oklahoma City. I also was reminded that
things look different in the dark rather than the daylight, and when you are in
a group, as opposed to riding solo. Like any big city anymore, they are
comprised of a series of freeways that form a beltway around the downtown, and
then try to scatter you off in your chosen direction. Making a game of it all
at the same time. We all like playing games, but not when we are lost, and in
this case I wasn’t lost as much as I was misplaced. Looking for old Highway 66,
I had planned to stop at Pop’s, to stretch my legs and have a Coke. Now for
those who travel these roads daily, no problem, but for me, at 80 mph fighting
every Okie out to run me off the road, the road split, one exit becoming two,
and of course I was in the wrong lane, the left lane. It was too late when I
realized it, but gazing in my mirror, saw the right lane open, and cut over the
curb, down a gulley, back up the hill and over the curb, and merged onto the
freeway, never breaking stride and staying at 80. Do not try this trick at
home, I could pull it off because I was on my Tiger, described as a 2-wheeled
Land Rover, an Adventure bike and with 9” of suspension travel front and rear,
it was possible. Compared to the 3” on your Sportster or slightly more on your
Gold Wing, you would have been thrown clear of your bike at the first curb, the
Tiger took it all in stride. A poor exit strategy almost killed me, the Tiger
never knew it. Add that to the reasons I stay off the freeways and ride the
back roads of America.
I have been riding Adventure bikes to tour for 13 years now, for touring
and those who need 1000 pounds of two wheels underneath them, luggage capacity
of the trunk on your Father’s old LTD, and room for a plush animal, complete
with stereo and GPS, add in a Buick sized windshield, and they don’t understand
why I choose the ride I do. Because it is comfortable, smooth, fast, handles
well, and two Tigers weigh less than any bagger Harley. At half the
price....And when the road ends, you don’t have to. And that is where many
great adventures continue or begin. Even if they are only missing an exit, or
riding from California to Maine. But we cannot know every road, or even what
lies ahead, every time I have followed a rider with GPS he got us lost, many
maps don’t show detours, and road construction, repairs, and poorly marked exits
make the ride exciting. Experience cannot be taught, it must be ridden, but
still no matter how many times I have ridden some roads, each time can be like
the first. And different on each bike...rider optional.
Don’t tell anyone, but the exit from I-15 south to SR 94 west can be taken
at 80 miles per hour, even though the sign says 30. On the right bike. Done it
many times. And each time I see where I could have ridden it a bit faster. My
exit strategy is different for each bike, for each condition, and usually not
fully known until the curve is entered. Call it foolish, I call it riding by
faith, and do it even on the straight sections. And of course the curves. But
with each mile I ride, I find I know more about the road and the bike I am on.
But I align it with other things in my life, and one constant remains, the more
I know, reminds me of how much I don’t know. The increase of knowledge only
increases the depth of wonder and delight. And with each new adventure one
thing becomes blatantly evident, I don’t have all the answers, and for those who
think they have all the answers, they haven’t heard all the questions. We will
never know all the enigmas of life, knowledge will always leave us lacking, and
understanding only take us part way. In God’s wisdom we need him, we need to
trust him, yet so many try to outsmart him, to out think him, to debate with
him. And end up missing the exit and having to change plans. Fortunately Jesus
forgives, and gives us another chance. To trust, we just read it as another
chance to be stupid.
When following a fellow rider on a new road, I follow his lines hoping he
knows what he is doing. Do we do the same with God? Sometimes a slower rider
will get passed, only to find out why he slowed down. Do we try to outpace God,
knowing what lies ahead? Only to miss an exit and take a shortcut? Is there a
reason the spirit slows us down for our own good? Scripture tells us more than
once to trust the judgment of the Lord, that he has the wisdom in all
situations, all we need to do is trust him. Before and during, then after.
When my sons were younger, they would ride with me, not knowing where we were
going, just trusting me to get them there safely. They never knew the close
calls, the missed exits, or the multitude of prayers while I was riding. They
just trusted me, without reservation. Do we approach Jesus in the same way? Do
we rest in his arms, knowing that all things will work out for our good if we
do? Are we so consumed with ourselves we forget about those who depend and
trust us? Jesus never forgets about us!
Jesus tells us to love or enemies because they are valuable to us. They
can come in the form of missed exits, people out to get us, those who oppose the
gospel and those who agree with us until we don’t agree with them. In all
cases, we need to trust the spirit more, to let him lead. God has put in each
of us a yearning for him, and once we follow that yearning, and trust then obey,
our rides will take on a much different perspective. Yet we claim to know so
much, to have experienced so much, yet we have such a shallow relationship with
the one who does. And today we all will be faced with decisions he will get us
through, if we trust him, and lean not on our own experiences. Our
suspensions. The potholes are out there and out to get us, one recently took
out Doug’s front wheel on his BMW. They are there, but so is God. And just
like the shocks and forks that absorb the potholes, his spirit will do the same
for us. The road may be rough, and a shirt I saw the other day said “bad
decisions make better stories,” but God will see us through. And his exit
strategy for us is heaven. An exit that if you miss don’t get a second chance.
There are gates in hell to keep those in, not to keep us out. Fortunately it is
not too late to change the road you are on. Or the speed you are traveling it.
Missed exits, wrong turns have taken me places I never would have known
about. They can also be a blessing when God guides your ride. We try to take
control of things, yet God will not allow it sometimes, as he is looking out for
us. He will not allow us to take his place and be in charge,we will always fall
short if we try to. But even when you miss your exit in life, Jesus is still
there to catch you. So why wait for catastrophe when you can enjoy a better
ride today? Why ride a smooth wrong road when a great adventure awaits us on
one where we need all our skills plus the spirit? God doesn’t stop when the
road ends, it is where adventure, trust and testimonies begin. We don’t call
them adventure bikes for nothing, and life is an adventure to be had. Just like
a phone call just reminded me. We need Jesus all the time! Only he sees the
end of the ride, and all the miles in between, we only see the road from behind
bars. He sees it from the top of the mountain.
What is your exit strategy? Do you know Jesus? Do you trust him? There
is a difference, and today may be the day you see him clearer than ever before.
He was there the whole time, just like the exit I missed, don’t miss him. I
made it to Pop’s, don’t miss his Pop in heaven. You may think you know all the
answers, the most important question is do you know Jesus? And your answer
is....
We will all someday enter into that eternity he has set in our minds. He
has made everything beautiful in his time...even potholes. All you need is the
right suspension, and to trust and obey. I thought I was paying attention that
morning, I was glad Jesus was. I rest my case.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com