A few years back a group of us were invited to the last day of school at a
small private school. They had a tradition of on the last day inviting bikers
to give rides to the graduating class, in this case eighth graders. Where were
schools like this when I was growing up? Eighth graders in this case, all 100
of them wanted a ride, my kind of students. It was a mostly Harley group,
with a few expensive custom ones, while a few of us showed up on sport bikes, I
had a Speed Triple that day. As the lines formed for the custom bikes, they
were the coolest looking that day, as the temp rose into the eighties, you could
see the heat waves pouring off the motors, as they rode around the parking lot.
Soon they had pulled over, overheating, and the kids complaining of how
uncomfortable they were. Soon my friend who I rode up with was pulled over, oil
pouring from underneath his bike. “Don’t worry, when it cools down it will
stop,” he assured me, “or when it runs out, “ I added. Seems there was not
enough air circulating at slow speeds, and the bikes overheated. They would all
be OK after about 20-30 minutes, but suddenly the hot bikes weren’t cool, and
the cool bikes were hot. And once the word got around about the Speed Triple,
the line formed. It seems that it is important what you ride, but when you
cannot ride it, it loses is value, its appeal. Giving a new meaning to the
words “Hot Harley,” they really weren’t that cool after all....
I had decided to bypass I-5 to avoid lane splitting on this weekday
morning. Cruising along along the PCH at my speed until I hit Corona Del Mar,
and the traffic stopped. I lane split a bit, but with tight lanes, started
looking for a way out, stopping behind a yellow car I had noticed. It was a
Ferrari, not sure of the model, but still had paper tags on it, so it was new.
I could see the impatient face of the man driving it through the heat waves
coming off the mid-engined car, here he was with half a million dollars of
wheels, stuck in traffic with the UPS truck, old VW’s, and me. Traffic being
the great equalizer between our social classes, and he too pulled off into an
alley, looking for cooler air. His car was not built for So Cal traffic, it was
built to driven at speed, he too had succumbed to engine heat, I was hot, as the
fans came on extracting the hot air from my radiator, but split lanes again and
rode on. With visions of the first Lexus third brake lights melting in LA
traffic, seems desert testing didn’t include LA traffic and they melted. It
seems that even a hot Harley, or a hot Ferrari, or even a not so hot Lexus when
confronted with low speeds and high heat just aren’t very cool...
On our last Torches ride in 2007 our group crossed into Needles, aka Hell
on Earth in midafternoon, not the smartest thing we had ever done. The
thermometer on one bike read 124 degrees, way past hot. So hot the glue on my
Arai melted, they later claimed they were tested to 122, and fixed it under
warranty. But all our bikes, Harleys, Gold Wings, and my Triumph ran cool as
long as we stayed moving, with no overheating problems, man or machine. Keep
the fresh air coming and all is well, but get stuck in traffic, suddenly the
game has changed. A strong case for water cooled bikes, as staying hydrated is
for cars and bikes as well as people, and keep moving the air over you. Even a
small breeze is welcomed and can make a big difference. No matter how cool your
ride, stuck on the side of the road will never be cool...no matter the
temperature!
We were given coins that reminded us to persevere in our sales training.
When talent, looks, money, connections, and all else fails, don’t give up, hang
in there. I reached for that coin more than once after a bad day, and it
reminded me that God was always with me. We persevere because God does, Jesus
did, and we will too, if we follow him. He reminded the Israelites through
Isaiah “do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed because I am your God,
I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my right hand.”
Hanging in there is a choice we make, but God gives us the strength and the
direction in each situation. We can release our grip on fear when we lean on
him. His daily bread, aka Jesus, is all we need, and by his spirit we can be
led, not around the adversity, but through it. In Psalm 23 God didn’t provide
and escape route through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but through it,
where we will fear no evil. Why, because he is always with us. Guiding and
protecting.
Today you may be in over your head, but not God’s head. Reflect on how he
has led and rescued you before, how he gave you hope when none was found, how he
was the way out and also way out. The Jews were provided for many times and
rescued many times, yet they forgot how God led them until they were in trouble
again, then turned to God. So don’t wait until you are stuck in traffic, or
think your cool bike will rescue you. No matter what you ride or drive, no
matter your income level, it all comes down to Jesus. All sin and fall short of
God’s glory, only he is the way and forgives. That day in Needles, we talked of
the heat and hell, we wanted no part of either. I have never returned to
Needles, and have bailed on hell, Jesus has reserved my place in heaven, my name
is on the list. I will fear no evil, for I know what lays ahead. The wicked
may have their day here, but God’s day and ours too are endless. We can live
knowing no matter what happens where it will all end. Cool here doesn’t mean
cool when we die, but when we see how cool Jesus really is, how cool
forgiveness, mercy, grace, and compassion really are, we change priorities.
If you are living an air cooled life, you can live a water cooled one in
the holy spirit, the cooling waters soothing us, and comforting us. Or you can
watch what is going on, safe and secure on the side of the road, knowing hot
isn’t cool. Hot Harleys and hot Ferraris have their place, Jesus fills every
place in your life. And just so you know, that temp light when it comes on
isn’t a warning light, it means you have overheated. Too late.....wise men
still seek him, the wisest men find him. God knows, you can too. Maybe it is
the heat...and not the humidity after all. And motorcycle boots weren’t made
for walking. Not important how I know....you can trust me on that one...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com