I had decided to just relax this week. It has been hectic, but fun and
exciting for the past six weeks, riding almost 8000 miles including riding over
5000 miles in nine states, catching up with old friends, and making new ones.
Coming home to the birth of our first grandson July 4th, and getting back into
the writing and ministering routine. In between raising a now 5 month old
American Bulldog who weighs over 50 pounds and still sits on my lap, helping
Nick get back on motorcycles again, and getting ready to leave for another week
of riding. I needed just a few days off to relax, then I got stung by a bee
while riding on my cheek, got to ride in the ambulance to the ER, I am allergic
and have taken a couple of days to fully recover, and just planned to finish the
break in miles on the 20185 Thruxton R I have. Then Mickey called...
When I had taken our Tiger 1050 up for an oil change, they had just gotten
in the first 2018 bikes for the press fleet, so I was given a T120 to ride.
Until Mick called the next day, they needed it back and they gave me the
Thruxton. Which sat mostly as it only holds one person, and Theresa and I have
been riding our old Tiger 955 with 106,000 miles on it. And he called again
yesterday, the T120, the same one I had for a day, needs break in miles ASAP to
go out to Cycle World, when can you come up? I wasn’t done with the Thruxton
yet, he said “keep it, ride the T120.” So needing an oil change on our Tiger
800, the one we took the trip on, I will ride it up today, leave it, pick up the
T120, bring it back Tuesday, get the 800, take the Thruxton back Thursday, pick
up a Street Triple RS, and leave Monday on the 800 for a week. For a few days I
will have more of Triumph’s press fleet in my garage than my own. Not sure
which day or bike it is....still under the affects of the bee sting.
But I have the reputation of putting on miles quickly when needed, so these
calls are not unusual, but infrequent. But they do come in bunches, and when
the new years, the next year’s bike arrive, I ride. A lot. Not really going
anywhere, but going everywhere, trying not to repeat any previous day’s ride. I
get bored on the same old roads, only a different bike makes the ride worth
while sometimes. I’m not sure if I am bragging or complaining, but like I said,
I had planned on just relaxing this week. Guess my rest will come on a two
wheeled sofa called Triumph. And no, I don’t wish to trade problems!
When I was forced into retirement by being disabled, I could see how you
never or ever had time to get things done before. With more time, it seems
there is more desire for it, and many mornings I don’t know what an email or
phone call will bring. Ministry is like that, meeting needs, and it brings me
closer to God every day. I recently read a scripture that we all know and have
heard about laying down your life for a friend being true love. But a brief
study of the words in John made me think. Did Jesus really want me to die for
him? For others? Death is a one time occurrence, not much to make a ministry
of. I have come closer to death than most, and not died, bringing on cascades
of “I guess your job for God isn’t done yet.” To which I reply, “I guess yours
isn’t either.” As if my testimony segregates me for special duty. But yes, it
does and has, and knowing I can only die once, makes me enjoy life today more.
For in the scripture, Jesus is asking us to put others ahead of us everyday, to
die to self, and put them ahead of us and our desires. Jesus showed greater
love, the indwelling of the father every day as he served, and gave of himself.
He knew what laid ahead, yet pressed on in love, not the emotion, but his spirit
one with his father. For God is love. And when his spirit is alive in us, we
can do what he commands, for it is not a suggestion, but a command, lay down
your selfish life for your friends. Listen to the spirit and you will know what
to do, be equipped and the works are in motion. Just obey! Sometimes it is on
the way, many times out of our way, but when in God’s way, we see him in
action,and we are blessed. And he calls us to do this repeatedly! We as
Christians are to known by our love, to be different from the world, but to
minister in it. We cannot do this on our own, only in the spirit.
Jesus died once for all, we die many times for him. Our lives are not our
own after we turn to him, he guides us, and this week I will ride. Which I love
to do, and spend time in the spirit listening to him inside my helmet. I know
he has great things planned for me, so I am excited, but tired too. He will
give me the strength, as he always has before.
Today you will be confronted with the chance to show the love of Jesus.
Maybe by listening to a hurting friends, running an errand, baking cookies, or
visiting someone in the hospital. And it will upset your schedule, but do it
like we are commanded, in love. For whoever is the least of those we do it for,
we are doing it to Jesus. Jesus needs miles on a motorcycle, a ride to the
hospital, a meal and conversation, revealed in the circumstance he provides.
And he is calling on us to be his hands and feet, his ears and mouth too. In
his love. I get many letters from Christians who sign off, In his service, but
are you in his love? Seven different bikes ridden in 10 days in God’s love.
Maybe the scripture is true, he does give us the desires of our hearts. And
when he is that desire.....well, I’m going riding! If only you could see the
smile inside my Arai. For God so loved the world, he laid down his life for
us. Can’t you pass on his love just a little today?
We are to love as he loved us. And as his spirit dwells within us, we
will. “Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord.” Die to
self and start to live. So you can do it again tomorrow. Do you want greater
love? Do you want to be more like Jesus? Get ready to lay it all down and
serve. In love, true love. You know, there just may be a lesson in here
somewhere.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com