Being stuck on the side of the road today means taking out your cell phone
and pushing the AAA app. But at one time it meant getting creative, just
creative enough to get the car home, and then do the repairs. But in today’s
world of Millenials who either don’t own or cannot afford a car, they adapt
their non-thinking problem solving processes to cars as well as life. But once
upon a time it was different...
Back when dating and girls wore panty hose, one night a belt broke on my
BMW, and risked facing her father or a blown engine. Engines can be rebuilt.
But I asked her to give me her panty hose, secured them tightly as a belt, toped
off the coolant with creek water, and we made it home, just in time. And no,
she didn’t want them back. Another radiator leak almost left us stranded at
10,000 feet, until one guy suggested pouring pepper into the radiator. We were
eating our picnic lunch, and sure enough, it was enough to plug the hole until
we got home. Overheating on a 100 degree day at the Great Adventure stuck in
traffic, windows down, heater on full, and the gauge dipped. But maybe the best
is from Don the crew chief at Simon and Simon Racing, who built a relief valve
into the truck’s cooling system, and was able to burp it and get back on
course. So while help may not be on the way, it may already be there.
I once blew out a freeze plug on my 1949 Ford F-3 pickup, stopping at every
farm between Bayfield and Durango and pouring water into the radiator, made it
safe. Then sold the truck an hour later after replacing the plug. How many
gapped the points using a match book cover when you got a misfire? How many
know what a matchbook is? The other day I cut my hand using a knife designed to
cut things other than flesh. Some quick grease in the wound stopped the
bleeding instantly, some Scotch tape and gauze a working bandage. My first Coke
delivery truck, a step van, broke the throttle cable. The quick fix, run
mechanic’s wire from carb linkage to pedal after removing engine cover. Hot and
noisy, it worked. How many of you real bike riders ever broke a clutch cable?
Did you panic as one guy did, or were you able to get home without it, timing
lights and shifting using the rpm’s? I rescued a guy on a Sportster once and
lending him my Bonneville, still beat him home. He was afraid to go fast. At
least he knew his bikes. Amazing what a pressure situation can do with a
creative mind....
These things may describe the life of a Christian better than we would like
to think. So often it is easier to complain, cuss, complain and cuss together,
then ask God for help, called prayer. Which is the only time too many speak to
God, note I didn’t say with him. And we have all been there, it is the return
trips that hurt the worst. Maybe the first thing is to not panic in a panic
situation, but also to learn from the stories of Jesus. No food, take the two
fish and five loaves you have and let him distribute them. No salve for the
blind eyes, dirt and spit will do just fine. Can’t get to the Bible study for
healing, cut a hole in the roof. At the well and thirsty, admit what God knows
of your sin and leave thirsting no more. Being chased and facing a great sea,
watch as God parts it and then swallows up your pursuers. No money for tax, grab
a fish and take the coin from its mouth. No more wine, fill the cisterns with
water, and bypass the fermentation, drink of a holy spiritual wine from above.
Stuck outside and a huge rock between you and Jesus? Watch as an angel picks it
up and throws it away....just things that occurred daily in the life of the
disciples and Jesus. Yet they too fretted, giving you your out and excuse,
“well they saw Jesus and panicked, I guess it’s OK I do,” neglecting to know we
have the same spirit available to us that they did, the holy spirit. The
comforter, counselor, provider, and friend in times of need. No app for
him...
Because he is already with us. We need to pray outside the box as well as
think outside it. When stupidity left me with a broken foot peg 3000 miles from
home, a stop in a Honda service department had me one in no time. Going through
the trash we found handlebars, cut them to length, put a grip over them, and
held them in place where the old foot peg was with a set screw. Made it home,
still have the home made peg to show for it. Or the time Brett his broke brake
rod on his Nighthawk, none his size in stock at the Honda dealer, so we made one
his length out of two shorter one, painted it black for affect, and off we
went. Or the time Jeff lost his master link on the 4th of July, one quick tack
with a welder and his chain was a one piece chain. God will find a way where
there seems to be no way....Jesus Christ, the way! The best friend on the road
or on the side of it. With one last bit of advice, Gatorade works as antifreeze
in a pinch, but don’t drink from the wrong bottle. Both may be green! And taste
sweet. And all miracles done without duct tape!
With one bit of advice, see the nail in your tire. Leave it there, it may
be holding the air in. Do not remove it, not important why or how I
know.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com