I was already upset laving the Post Office as the new and improved
automatic teller was down, again. Then pushing the starter on my Tiger 1050 and
getting no response only added to it. After blaming, or cursing everyone who
could be connected with both, then asking for forgiveness, I called AAA, who
said they would be there in 36 minutes. But when I pushed the starter button
this time, it started, getting me home just in time to call AAA, who now had a
43 minute ETA. Checking the clutch lever, which must be pulled in to start the
bike, I found the switch loose, pushed it in, it clicked, problem solved. And I
should have known better....
When it comes to regulations on motorcycles, I blame John Leonard. He was
the electronic guru/nerd at Durango Music 35 years ago, with a cool side, owning
a ‘63 Galaxie with glass packs and riding a motorcycle. One day he forgot to
put up the side stand, crashed in a corner, with both he and the Honda never
riding again. Now per Federal regulation, the side stand must be up, or the
bike stalls, and cannot be started until it is up. Call it the Leonard Law,
added to others like standardized shift patterns, on the left, one down the rest
up, daytime running lights so you can see a motorcycle, until now it is stylish
for cars to have them, making it harder to tell what is coming at you seeking to
ruin your day. And my least favorite, and the culprit of the day, the clutch
interlock. No more starting in gear, clutch must be in, and after time for many
of us who really ride, the in wears out, the bike won’t start, and we go into
our sin mode. My 2006 Tiger had it bypassed, from 2007 on it is part of the
starting program via computer. Another case of “Hi I’m from the government and
I’m here to help.” With shades of the seat belt interlock of 1974, seat belt
not buckled car won’t start still in our memories...at least that one got
repealed, faulty switches. Do I see a pattern here.....
But I feel confident now said Tiger will start as the connector is
connected, and as long as it stays connected, it will start as designed. If
only people stayed connected as designed.....You can blame it all on Adam and
Eve, but only God allows us the choices we make. Unlike the government who
tries to legislate morality, for everyone but themselves, and Hollywood whose
movies tell us what love is, based on their latest ne night stand, God allows us
to choose. And even has a back up plan, when you choose wrong, he offers
forgiveness. Try that one next time the CHP pulls you over. God forgives, the
law doesn’t. So it just creates more laws, more ways to tell us to live, which
only leads to more sin, as the more laws you have, the more you have to break.
Isn’t legislated morality fun? But then comes along Jesus, and the rules all
change. For he not only told of love, he was love. He not only forgave sin, he
was sinless. He not only rewrote the laws from over 600 down to two, he lived
them. Loving God first, as he pointed all he did to his Father in heaven, and
then loving man too, as he died on the cross. But the highlight is he was
resurrected and so we can be too! He calls it love, for which there is no law
against. And they tried to bust him, but love covers a multitude of sins, and
still does today. But we need to stay connected, or like the Tiger, you may be
pushing the right buttons, but nothing happens.
So Jesus advises us to abide in the vine, we are the vine, and he is the
vine dresser. And as long as we abide in him, we grow and prosper, for when
interwoven with Jesus, by his spirit we are interwoven with him. A lesson I
once learned when removing ivy from a fence, and the fence fell. Abiding in the
vine works in everyday spiritual applications too, not only with fences. So
maybe we don’t need another law, but the Leonard Law works for me, reluctantly.
Which brings up the question of my neighbors new 2018 Gold Wing. So much
technology including DCT, an automatic trans for those who speak only English.
He is having to learn to ride an automatic, think about that statement for a
second, it seems it tells him what gear it wants to be in, sometimes
downshifting when in a corner leaned over. And it has no clutch lever to pull
in...how does he start the thing? So he finds himself abiding in the owners
manual....when he could be riding. Must be a lesson in there
somewhere....
Spending too much riding time fixing, abide in the owners manual. Spending
too much time upset and apologizing, abide in the vine. Knowing that the vine
will be pruned, us, but it will only cut out the bad parts and make us
stronger. Long before starter interlocks and government regulations, Jesus knew
all the problems and has all the answers. Found in the vine. Written in his
word, and revealed by his spirit. Sometimes the remedy is right in front of you
like mine was, but was too blind and stupid to see. For there is a difference
in knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus. It all happens within the vine.
Which maybe explains why the Post Office only lost $2.7 billion last year.
Maybe if we stop mailing so many letters, their losses will go down. And you
thought it was hard to ride a motorcycle....long before we let those who ride
decide, Jesus did and does. Clutch in, kickstands up, let’s ride!
And by the way, the letter was mailed...now let’s see if it gets
there!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com