For me it started with my best friend Bill Moore and his home made mini bike. I can still remember racing at speeds up to 20 mph up Princeton Avenue, through McGinn School and then across Martine Avenue, as we rode, 2 up, seeking new adventures and girls to brag to them about. Then it was Ricky, and his Honda 50, with the kit to make it look like a real motorcycle. Racing along, actually shifting, and then doing it all over again-in the dirt, along the stream at Brookside Park, we were bad, for no one else had real motorcycles like his. And rush of all rushes, sometimes he would let me ride his Kawasaki 125 sometimes-WHOA! And of course Dave Macrae and his Tecumseh powered mini-bike, racing around the streets by the high school during our split sessions. Believe me-you never had this much fun in the library!
But it was riding in the street, with BH, as a senior that changed my life. A whole new world erupted of sights, sounds, smell, and tastes-a world much different than only previously seen from the backseat of my parents Rambler. Riding to other local towns on his old CL77, then finally on my own CB350, we would follow roads just to see where they went. Time didn't matter, that's what headlights were made for. And when Bill traded his CL for a CB like mine, the roads extended farther-sometimes hundreds of miles farther. Riding almost 200 miles on a 90 cent tank of gas, so many roads, so little time. And we would take turns leading, each leading for an hour, then letting the next one pick up from there. We went places I never knew existed, on roads I never knew were there, and a new found freedom was being released via my throttle hand. The freedom to go where you wanted, when you wanted-while others commuted, we toured. While others took the Parkway, we took the back roads to the shore. And while others borrowed their parents' Rambler, we carried an extra helmet, just in case the few times we got lucky with girls, they would ride with us. But given the choice between girls or cycles-the cycles would always win out. There was always potential with my girlfriend at home, waiting-but the road wouldn't. And life would never be the same.
Until I started riding in groups after I got married. And suddenly they had rules, and would travel at slow speeds, on slow roads, to familiar places. 60 miles per ride, not 60 mph. No excitement here, no sense of adventure, and they took more time to visit than riding. And when I would complain, I was the bad guy. Suggested roads were always too far. Or too curvy. Or too something-stay within the lines-or rules, and let the worst rider dictate the day. And I rode too fast, my bikes were not cruisers, and I was forced to dumb down my riding skills, and ambitions if I was to ride with them. The freedom and enjoyment I had found in riding was gone-if I chose to follow their rules. And I was reminded, that for every rule, a loss of freedom follows. And that some people aren't cut out for freedom, but are happier in a legalistic environment. And never enjoy all the blessings God has for them.
And it carries over into personal lives, sadly, as well. Seems that in this world today, you must have rules to function, and legalism really isn't a new concept. Two sisters, friends of Jesus, had Him over for dinner one afternoon. While Martha had fussed about cleaning, cooking, and then pointing out to Jesus how hard she worked for Him, Mary sat at His feet, worshipping Him. And this even upset Martha more, and she let Jesus know it. But Jesus reminded her, that Mary had the right attitude. And that the legalism Martha showed, caused bitterness. You see legalism is all about you-and the law. She was meeting Jesus on her terms-not His. The Spirit is all about Jesus, and Him leading your life. The law kills, the Spirit brings life. And Martha, although under the law, was bitter to Mary, who in the Spirit was showing the better way-Jesus' words. And just like when riding, when following rules and regulations, or a preset plan, and a detour happens, it only leads to bitterness, and robs the one in the Spirit of his freedom-and blessings.
Ask yourself this-is your walk with Jesus all you desire? Did you become a Christian to be barraged with a lot or rules and thou shalt nots? Have you had enough religion yet? Did you sign up to work in the kitchen? Or be with Jesus-intimately?
Trust God today, and listen to what the Spirit is saying. Break away from the group, and follow Him, and go places that not even your motorcycle can take you. With someone who knows the best roads, the way through the problems, and will always be there for you-even when bouts of legalism invade from others. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. And what good is liberty if you don't enjoy it?
And let Him who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or dream of, be the true Lord of our lives. Something no law could ever do. For me it started at the foot of the cross, how about you?
Never confuse what appears to be careless for being carefree-in the Spirit!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com