When asked to give directions, I can get you there, I just have trouble
with the names of the streets. Still not sure about all the names in my own
neighborhood after 17 years, but it seems I always get to where I want to go.
Sometimes in an imaginative road trip. I am definitely not a GPS guy, I can get
lost without their help, and being spied upon. And after passing the same diner
for the third time following its directions, even I can see there is something
wrong. But I have taken many rides with only a destination, aka a place for the
night, and turned a 200 mile ride into a 500 mile odyssey. After making
reservations in El Paso, riding from San Antonio, after seeing it, we kept
going, to Tucson. Only an 800+ mile ride on the Sprint ST, but closer to home
the next day. So we can take a longer route, and ride a road we wondered where
it went. See? But maybe even worse than the horror of GPS, is the person who
means well when giving directions, and including so much info you cannot absorb
it all. “Take the 15, get off at Little Curvy Road, not sure of the exit
number, go about 1.5 miles, past the red house which is being painted blue, an
old gas station used to be across the street, go four, or is it five stop signs,
look for out of order sign on diner on right. If you miss it, go back and take
the y you passed, and your destination is on the right, about a half mile. I
think.” The real version is “ get off at exit 25, go right 2.5 miles, your
address is on the left. You cannot miss it.” Leaving El Paso was so
easy.....
On one trip through Wisconsin, a detour closed the highway, but some local
cars ignored it, so did I. No big deal, but it did allow me to go through a
farmer’s yard. He waved, wonder what he thought of the motorcycle from Cali
that day? Or the time outside of KC on a 100 degree day, “if you don’t mind a
gravel road, I can save you an hour.” Gravel, on a Tiger? Save an hour? Show
me, and we followed him. While others sat in traffic, we sat in the pool at the
motel. But not all roads or road trips are so lucky, as in the rain one night I
got off the freeway in Ohio, don’t ask me how, and ended up at a dead end in
some heavy woods, in a downpour. When a sheriff pulled up and warned me “this
is a place people go into and are never heard from again.” And guided me back
to I-70. Or the old state trooper in Indiana, who spread his map out over the
trunk of his car and showed me lightly patrolled roads great for riding. What
is an extra hour on a cross country trip? A friendly restaurant manager seeing
our helmets, offers to take off the next day and guide us through Texas Hill
Country, and comped the desserts! Seems on a motorcycle even those who don’t
ride see you different....like the farmer and his son eating lunch at Joy Lunch
in Corydon, Indiana, who wanted to trade places, it was haying day, and please
honk and wave to his wife as we pass. The pastor and his wife in Hillsboro,
Wisconsin, who tells he was to fill in for the old pastor, temporarily, and has
for 35 years. But my favorite is taking our bikes into our motel room in
Monterey for the races. Cool waking up next to an FJ100 and a Ninja 750, but
yuk, the smell of gas. But oh the memories....
With so much emphasis on going to church, we forget Jesus tells us we are
the church. Read you Bible, so much of time Jesus was on the road. And so many
things happened on the road. From Paul’s conversion, the good Samaritan, Philip
meeting the eunuch, and note Joseph and Mary were where when Jesus was born, on
the road. How did he enter Jerusalem, on the road. Even crucified along the
road. From Genesis to Revelation you can find examples of God’s blessings on
the road. Abraham choosing which road to take. Moses leading the Jews on a
road. Even Jonah taking a water road if you will. All trips that someone set
out on, not knowing what the day would bring, but the blessings abounding when
traveling with God. Adam and Eve, maybe the first road, walking with God, I
cannot see them trampling flowers, it must have been a path. See how many you
can think of, then ask yourself, “am I on the road I am supposed to be on?” A
detour to us is not to God, how many of us are assured of the road we are on in
Christ?
Jesus taught in the temple, but told his flock, “as you go, spread the
gospel.” All the time, not just among those who believe like you do. His love
extended all over the known world, and extended to a world far beyond that which
we know. Why even in heaven the roads are paved with gold, must mean we will be
going somewhere when we get there. So much for angels floating on
clouds.....today as you go, follow the lead of the good shepherd, who knows the
roads, knows where the dangers are, and goes ahead so we can travel in safety.
So when an El Paso comes into your life, you have the energy to go on. And he
gives us he instructions via his spirit, simple so we can get it, free so we can
afford it. No GPS can guide like the spirit, and God has no back up route, only
the perfect route, with a way back when we fail to listen. He knew, long before
you did. Or get lost in the woods. The road you are on is more important than
you think.
So go where the blessings are, get out and live. God’s neighborhood
extends to the heavens, and to heaven. A block away may be all he wants of you
today, or maybe a time zone or two. But know you never travel alone, for he
never leaves you nor forsakes you.
Or you can bee like the woman who brought her Mercedes Benz to us, check it
over for a trip up north from La Jolla. I thought LA, San Fran, maybe Monterey,
so her answer surprised me. “Delmar.” All seven miles of it. From what I
understand she made it...I hope you do too. A road trip odyssey is awaiting us
all in Christ Jesus, did you know the seven churches mentioned in Revelation are
a postal route? Now how important is the road in your life?
And did I mention road food?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com