I had only known Doug as my co-worker at Coca Cola. I was his driver
first, then became a fellow salesman with him. Outside of Coke I really didn’t
know much about him other than he loved to hunt and fish, taking his two weeks
every year when hunting season opened in Durango. He was born and raised there,
and knew many people there, going back quite a few years. On one of the few
occasions we got to go downtown together, we were walking down Main Ave. when he
greeted a man with a grunt, never making eye contact, and the man answered the
same way. When I asked “who was that?” he answered “my brother.” Not knowing
Doug had a brother, he explained he had a few brothers, all in Durango, and
nobody in the family talked with each other. Not pressing him, he went on to
explain the only time they got together or even talked was hunting season each
year, as they went as a group, not a family to hunt, sharing the bounty among
themselves. Not Christmas, Thanksgiving, or weddings or funerals, outside of
the opening of hunting season each year they were strangers, emphasis on
strange. But for those two weeks......
BH and I used to joke that if we both agreed it left no room for
originality. Today at work, at play, at Harley dealers, and even at church, we
are told what to think. Maybe not dictatorial, but emphasized enough that we
follow the regimen of the group. When seeing a fellow rider off his bike, I can
tell what he rides by his clothes, all black leather, a Harley, maybe an
Indian. Over dressed for the weather with off road clothes, a BMW. No matter
the season I am t-shirt and jeans, what does that say about me? But we are not
judging, just observing, and no BMW rider worth his Beemer would be caught not
in uniform, just as a Harley rider wouldn’t. When I used to wear my CMA cut I
always thought it was so I was to be identified with them, until I found out it
was better to live anonymously. Society cannot live without the fact of
categorizing people, so we fall into a prescribed, pre-ordained, prejudiced
grouping. It seems in the quest to be an individual, we all get lost in the
group. But when the group is more important than the individual, we lose. And
some are better at losing than others, some even to the point of enjoying the
mental or social slavery that comes with it. Maybe best described as a the
scene at Alice’s Restaurant one Sunday morning, with both sides of the street
lined with bikes. Harleys on one side, and café racers on the other. It used
to be motorcycles was our defining role, now it was the very thing that
separated us. Maybe best translated later as one group rode too slow, the other
too fast. Not one Goldilocks rider to be found......all I want to do is
ride.
Church unity is a hot topic for many. I receive many requests to join in
with “like minded men” to fellowship, but like Doug I grunt and pass them by.
Not because I am better, I’m not, but the unity or like mindedness they adhere
to is the church, its teachings, or even its pastor. Paul had to address this
in a few of his letters, emphasizing who we are to be like by with. Not with
men so as to gain acceptance, but with Jesus Christ, to gain his acceptance and
walk in his spirit. To be of one mind, one body, and of one spirit. Which will
bring us together as the one church. The true division begins when any other
criteria than Jesus is used. Only his love and spirit can break down doctrinal
or denominational barriers, not more teachings or rallies. The peace and unity
we seek is only found in Jesus Christ, not ourselves. No self help, or ways to
happiness, just Jesus. Anything else divides.
So he appeals in the name of Jesus Christ, as no other name is bigger, has
more power, or the power to save. It is impossible to get us to agree on many
things, but when we agree on the spirit of him, we can be true brothers and
sisters because his life is in us. The only basis we need to agree upon is
Jesus Christ, anything else is a sham. It takes boldness in the spirit to agree
with Jesus, but when we do life takes on a new and exciting role. It means
sacrificing our own ways and ideas for his, best described in Philippians, where
it is written he made himself a bit lower than the angels and unto death on a
cross gave himself for us. He became obedient unto death for us, truly he is
the one who willingly gave his life for his brother, being the true love we find
talked of in scripture. And later in life Hebrews tells us to strip off the
weight of sin that slows us down or weighs us down. Jesus wants to ease our
burden, to have it cast on him, to be free from the weight of sin. Maybe best
described as this way, we can run with the devil, never catching up, always
being chased or chasing, never measuring up or when we do maintaining it, or we
can walk with Jesus. Not hurrying or falling behind, in step with the spirit,
who guides our steps. Running implies a race or competition, maybe for our soul
or just within ourselves, walking implies the peace of Jesus, just as God walked
with Adam and Eve in the garden before they sinned. Running on empty....there
is a reason. Full of the spirit, it is overflowing, and a witness to others.
Many run to the place where Jesus once walked, how many just walk with him today
wherever they are? Something to consider the next time you are late.....Jesus
never was.
From Adam and Eve in the garden, to the animals walking onto the ark of
Noah, from Daniel seeing four men walking in the fire, to Jesus seeing two
brothers walking along the Sea of Galilee, to his walking on the lake, John
tells us that Jesus has no better reward than to see his people walk in faith.
32 times walking is mentioned in scripture, is it part of your biography? Or is
running, mentioned 31 times, mostly in a running away from tense, except to the
tomb of Jesus, afraid they had missed him. With Dr. Luke advising us to “do not
go after them,” those that propose to see Jesus and spread a false doctrine.
The only running in a Christians life should be running to Jesus, as the father
ran to the prodigal son, with love and mercy running over your cup in Christ.
Being out of breath may be as simple as being out of the spirit.
Unity in the spirit, as simple as letting Jesus be the Lord you tell
everyone at church he is. He didn’t come to save churches, but sinners. We are
his church, yet some choose to walk away. While some choose to run after him.
Only in the spirit will you gain all he has for us when you walk with him. You
can be like the two men who encountered him, not knowing who he was and
remarking how their hearts burned within them, or running amok, searching for
the answers to life, only found in him. When we decide to put Jesus first, that
is what brings us into harmony with him and unifies the church. But if we put
the things of our mind first, we miss the blessings of God. Our choice, we can
be like Doug’s family, once a year and then go our separate ways, be a CEO at
church, Easter and Christmas only, or walk in the spirit daily. Some of us have
a lot of catching up to do....don’t run, you don’t have to. Jesus accepts you
as and where you are. He just doesn’t want to leave you like that. In religion
there is no room for originality, only in Jesus will you find all you are
looking for, and more. Wouldn’t you just love to have heard the conversations
between God and Adam and Eve in the Garden?
And no yelling either....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com