Everyone has a list of their ten best or favorite roads, but what about the
ride? Maybe a subtle difference, but a difference none the same. For example
Highway 1 between San Luis Obispo and Carmel is a favorite road, but not even on
my list of favorite rides. Why? Because of the weather, rain, cold, wind, and
fog never get me to fully enjoy the road. I have ridden it in rain and in sun,
you never know what you will get. So I ride elsewhere. Route 66 is just the
opposite, one of my favorite rides, but not on my road list. I love the
history, old diners, and the atmosphere of the 50-60’s, but most of it is just
boring. I like the small towns, but stop light after stop light gets old. So I
ride elsewhere. All the locals rave about Palomar, I avoid it. Good road, too
many riders in the way, one squid is all it takes to ruin everyone’s day.
Interstate 79 in West Virginia is one of my favorite rides, but being an
interstate, as you approach Morgantown, it is just another freeway. Ever ride
the Chesapeake Bay Bridge? 17 miles of bridge and tunnels, it scares my wife,
it fascinates me. But on a windy day....and you go from Delmarva to Virginia
Beach, hmmm? How about a bridge? The Astoria bridge is a place I love to ride,
just back and forth over it. High, windy, then straight and floating over the
Columbia, when we are in the area we ride over it a few times. Nothing to me of
great value on either side, just the bridge that brings them together.
On our last ride to Tucson, not a good ride for the most part to get there,
it is boring to get there, we took the back roads to Silver City, and found some
beautiful riding roads. No traffic, great curves with elevation changes, and
good pavement. Far away but close enough to society that you are never more
than an hour away from help if you need it. I will not disclose the roads, they
are yours to find, mine not to share. If in Pennsylvania, ride SR 32 from
Easton to New Hope. What a road if ever was made for riding, but look out,
watch your speed, for the curves may have warnings, the cops don’t. But slow
down and enjoy the scenery, and of all the times I have ridden it, the last one
is always my favorite. The Snake in North Carolina and Tennessee boasts more
curves in less miles than the Dragon. But without the hype, is more rideable.
And at the intersection at the bottom, you have a choice of 4 ways to go. Top
that!
Some roads I have ridden so many times that they have fallen from my let’s
ride list. I like new roads, ones I haven’t ridden before, ones that the trendy
group doesn’t know about and hasn’t found yet. Back roads that seemingly go to
nowhere, but really is somewhere. Most disappointing is stopping at a cycle
while riding cross country, and they have nothing to offer. Don’t you guys
ride? Where is your sense of adventure? So I follow squiggly lines on the map,
look for back roads and cut offs, and alternate routes. A road less travelled,
but a lot more interesting. Two roads in Iowa come to mind, one in Indiana,
another in Arkansas, and numerous ones in southern Minnesota. Places you may
avoid, but I have discovered, and want to keep secret. Part of the ride is the
discovery, the thrill of the first time. For the rest of you there are a GPS.
Or take the bus. But whatever road you choose, I hope you enjoy the ride.
For years as a Christian motorcyclist I struggled with the scripture about
the road to God being straight and narrow. Then why did he invent curves and
motorcycles to ride them? And on one curvy road one day, he explained. He gave
us the curves to enjoy and to be blessed. He made the ride to him straight and
narrow so no one would miss a turn. Add in the shortest way between two points
is a straight line, and he wants no delay in us coming to him. And suddenly, it
all made sense, at least to me. We are all on different paths, different roads,
but on different rides. Some cruise through life, never being challenged, but
missing out on aspects of God they will never see. If you don’t know or haven’t
found the hard times bring you closer to Jesus, hang on. You will be blessed,
but pressed at the same time. Maybe a road less taken, but a ride that only
with Jesus you will arrive at. Some rides will last longer, some shorter, some
cut off. In all we can see the grace and mercy of God if we have our spiritual
eyes open. Five years ago we set out for a 22 day ride to Wisconsin, 54 days
later we come home in a rented Camry after I had my aorta replaced in
Albuquerque. After being life flighted from Durango. A tough road, but a ride
I could never have taken without Jesus. A ride that brought me closer to him
than I ever thought possible, and I thought I was pretty close. Boy was I
wrong, but that straight and narrow path between us was ever so short when I
needed him, even before I could ask. Which it is hard to do in a coma.
We don’t know where today’s ride will take us or where it will end up. Or
how. But you can be sure Jesus will be with you if you invite him along. If
saved, he already is, if not, an invite is in order. You don’t have to be
paranoid to see that everyone is out to get you when riding, or not. One
afternoon on a ride in the Sandia Mountains reminded me. Old SR 10, now SR14 is
made for riding, but is also very rural. Lots of old pickups maxing out at 25
mph. You never know if one is around the curves you cannot see. But God sits
on top of the mountain and sees everything. And one afternoon his spirit warned
me, and I slowed where I normally would not have, narrowly missing an old truck,
the rancher waving, never knowing how close I had come. But Jesus did, and that
makes all the difference.
Is he making a difference in your life? Do you let him? Are you riding by
skill alone? Without Jesus today, you may never ride tomorrow. So enjoy the
ride today, with one final example of God’s grace, initially interpreted as my
stupidity. I rather give God the credit. We were going to go to the Billy
Graham Library which we thought was in Boone, North Carolina, where he is from.
No one could tell us where it was. Later that night in our motel, as we watched
the weather, over 600 lightning strikes had hit the ground in Charlotte. Where
Billy’s library was. And if we had been there, it could have been disastrous,
but God knew, and what was a wrong destination at first was one of comfort and
security from the storm. And when we visited the next day, the place was aglow
in bright colors because of the rain. As if God had done it for us, and I
believe he did.
Favorite road, but rather my favorite ride. He gave me a testimony, and a
safe ride. Allowing me to see his love for us in the curves too. Like meeting
the fellow Triumph rider on Skyline Drive, or making a new friend we never met
but guided us through SR 128 one afternoon. Or...so whatever road you take,
know that Jesus is what makes the ride. Can’t say that on a bus can you?
Jesus, my favorite ride, no matter the road, I know where I will eventually end
up. Can you say the same?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com