Suddenly it’s 1969 all over again. 50 years of the Z car, the Mets winning
the World Series, the Aquarian Arts Festival, aka Woodstock, and the debut of
Easy Rider. If you were around back then, you may have been too young to know
the impact these events would have, as a 15 year old in high school, I was too
busy with day to day events. But I do remember Brennan’s brother getting a
240Z, the afternoon the Mets won the fifth game at home with Koos on the mound,
and I used to have an old underground newspaper with ads for AAF. But the
afternoon I spent watching Easy Rider changed me, sitting through it twice. For
a kid whose only exposure to motorcycles was mini bikes or dirt bikes of 50cc,
riding across America was my dream. But never having been more than 100 miles
from home, I had no idea America was so beautiful, especially the Southwest. It
would be two years until I was of driving age, add another 12 months til my
Honda 350, but the road was calling, off I rode and never looked back. And at
age 21, threw a leg over my R90S, on a cold Connecticut morning, and two weeks
later was in Albuquerque the day before Thanksgiving, 1975. And my rides were
just beginning....
I was the Billy type, wild and crazy, just wanting to have fun. With
riding the most important thing in my life. The Easy Rider influence, but only
up to a point, as I was reminded last night. I only watch until they get to
Texas, as it gets too serious then. No more riding 66 through New Mexico and
Arizona, on roads I have ridden so any times they are local to me. From
crossing over into Arizona across the Colorado River, and leaving Needles, a
suburb of hell, so many of the locations are familiar to me. Riding through
Kingman, then east leaving town. Getting gas along the way at a two pump store
before I-40 changed it all, the ranches along the way, wondering how anybody got
there and why they stayed. Eating Mexican food for the first time, introduced
to sopapillas. And the New Mexico sunsets, truly the land of enchantment.
Roads and places I have ridden for over 40 years, some as recently as last
year. But at the Texas-New Mexico border, I ride on, but I leave the Easy Rider
experience behind.....
For me the southwest has a charm I cannot describe, from mountains to
deserts, from wildflowers to cactus, and miles of blue sky. Lots of miles
between towns, and a welcome smile at each one. Rare to find a person who
doesn’t understand your riding, and love for the road, even if they are bound
there, even if not by choice. For me Easy Rider is before Texas, and after LA,
with 1000 miles of roads, road food, and memories had, and to be had. Travel by
motorcycle has changed a lot since 1969, 800-1000 mile days are no big deal.
Bikes are reliable, gas is still relatively cheap there, paid $2.04 a gallon in
Albuquerque in March, here it was $3.25. Most bikers still wave, and at rest
stops, we still compare notes. The road will change you, in my case making you
a better person, while still growing along the way. Seems some roads call me
back again, while others call me for the first time, but they still call after
48 states and over 1 million miles. My hearing may be bad after all those
miles, what I hear goes way beyond any auditory sense, it goes right to the
soul...
And it comes right from the holy spirit. The same holy spirit that told
you you needed Jesus, is still calling to you today. Get out and live! The
same spirit told Abraham “take a look around, a far as you can see, it is
yours.” How many of us live a Christian life believing that? Believing God has
infinite resources for us, great plans for our joy and happiness, and all it
takes is bit of faith, followed by obedience. When Wyatt took off his watch
before the ride, we need to not be bound by time or earthly constraints, but
trust God. God has each one of us on different road, but all lead to Jesus. He
knows the plans he has for us, and when we trust him, when we follow his spirit,
the plans are better than anything we can dream. But he also inhabits our
dreams and visions, promising young men will dream dreams, old men will have
visions, not just of the future, but as insight to him personally. But life can
be more than just reading the Bible and praying when the spirit is involved.
Too many lives are like the earth when first created, without form. Until the
holy spirit hovering above it came into it and gave it life. Just like he does
us. Yet too many journeys end at the end of the driveway, and never see all God
has for them. Pick an excuse....none of them work if you trust and obey.
Abraham made his choice not on what he saw, but on God’s providence. Do we
make decisions based on only what we see? I know some who live in San Diego and
have never been to LA, too far. 120 miles too far. Or think it is the same
everywhere, so stay home. Missing on God’s blessings he has for them. But God
made it simple, all this you can see and more is yours if you choose me. Don’t
discount the will of God, for he also promised Abraham descendants that cannot
be numbered. No limit to what God has for us. With a question, are you content
with what life has given you, or what God has for you? Your choices tell the
story...
So God told him to “awake and walk all the land I have for you.” Maybe
that is the same calling I have for the road. Walk with Christ, and see the
world, through his eyes. Live in his grace and mercy, confident he is always
with you. He knows the mountains, he formed them, he knows the deserts, he
created them, and his sunsets are a reminder of how he provides, and will again
tomorrow. With colors no words an describe.
Two men were asked to make a decision. One, Lot took what he could see, it
ended up being Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham looked out and saw what lay ahead in
faith. Easy Riders of a past generation. Today we still get to choose, life or
death, heaven or hell. With a test for me after watching the movie last night.
I didn’t sleep much, I so desperately want to be on the road. Nothing compares
with riding a motorcycle on it, cars are like riding the bus. But I want to be
like Abraham and trust God, for what he didn’t see was better than what he did.
So even though it is tough, I will wait on God, as Abraham did. Too many
detours, roads not finished yet, or bad weather to pass on. I want all the
blessings of him now, and the ones to come. Before Texas and after LA a road
lies between, just like between now and heaven. So like God told Abraham,
“POSSESS IT!” There are no easy rides, only easy riders. Billy and Wyatt
thought they had it figured out, but lost instead. Don’t you. The things that
are seen are temporal, the things not seen eternal. And the things seen through
God’s eyes behind handle bars are priceless.....if only Abraham had a motorcycle
to ride....
If they were to make a movie of your life in Christ, would you watch
it?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.b;ogspot.com