The first real motorcycle shirt I ever wore was borrowed from my friend Ricky. He rode trials bikes, an Ossa Plonker, and got the shirt from Randy's Cycle Sales in Boylston, Massachusetts. It was my primary shirt that I wore my senior year in high school, and as motorcycles were not the cool thing in Jersey, I really stuck out with it. Denim jeans, t-shirt, and boots-I was ready to ride-even if I didn't have my own ride yet. But it was the shirt with all that info on the back that made me feel cool among the grease, clique, and soul brothers that made up my high school. Cool is more than shirt deep-the fashionable never get it. And I was still just one shirt away from my first motorcycle.
The names of motorcycles back then were many. Who remembers Greeves? Or Yankee? Did you Viva Montessa? Who didn't want a Bultaco shirt, which even the Bultaco shop didn't have? Add Cooper, Sachs, Jawa CZ, and others the likes of Hodaka and Husky and the list of orphans go on longer than our memory. But what if you were brought up in a motorcycle household? How would you be taught the ABC's of life? If it was the Ekins household, you would learn them via motorcycle brands-a fact shared at Bud Ekins memorial service at Warner Brothers. Sung by both his daughters! Bud was the one who taught Steve McQueen to ride-when we all wanted to be Steve, Steve wanted to be Bud! He rode in Then Came Bronson, and drove the Mustang in Bullitt. An accomplished stunt driver, he was more renown for his racing, from the Catalina Grand Prix to ISDT. Bud could ride, owned a Triumph shop, and was responsible for moto-x being established in the US of A. DeCoster and others worked out of Bud's home when first arriving here. But the alphabet-let's see how far your memory goes back-as I list some from A to Z! Ariel-BSA-Cooper-Ducati-Excelsior-Fischer-Gilera-Hodaka-Indian-JAP-Kawasaki-Laverda-Montessa-Norton-Ossa-Puch-Quasar-Royal Enfield-Sears-Triumph-Ural-Victory-Watson-XL-Yankee-Zundapp! Some gone, some forgotten, and some still living only in our memories and our t-shirts. But alive in our hearts!
But does the shirt make the biker? Good question? Today we are a society of t-shirts. Some mean something, some are just there. When you see some trendy girl with a Hollister shirt, don't waste your time asking her about the rally. Von Dutch has nothing to do with Kenny Howard-the real Von Dutch or pin striping. But they sound cool, and can be misleading. I visited with some people lately with Christian shirts on, and one guy made a comment about how people were led to him by his shirt. He probably discounted two things-one, he probably ran off more who saw his shirt as a warning of his approaching to preach at them, but most importantly he neglected the Holy Spirit. Isn't it the spirit that guides? Did Paul wear a Jesus Freak shirt? Guess he never thought about that. But so many don't, and hide behind the shirt. We will call them men pleasers as opposed to God pleasers. Whose evangelical kit consists of a shirt, bumper sticker, and a trendy Bible cover. No depth, just a facade. For just like we can tell real bikers, the world can tell real Christians. They are known by their love-and the old saying is true, people will care about how much you know, when they know how much you care! And myself and others find we minister more, and more effectively without an advertisement-and letting God guide us. Isn't true ministry all about God?
There were no t-shirt concessions at the cross. So we should remember what draws us there in the first place. And what we take with us when we leave. If you only get a shirt and stickers, you missed the gospel. If you didn't leave with Jesus, and a changed heart-go back. Ditch the shirts, and ask for the real thing-Jesus! Don't settle for religion, when you can have God! And don't put on the shirt if you can't back it up. For you just might be asked, and will your shirt get you into heaven? Will it get you in the Word? Will it get the Word in you? Don't be misled-the best fashion statement you can make is with your actions and attitudes-ones of love.
Works with motorcycle shirts too. We know when you don't know what we are wearing. You see the world puts the logo on front-so when you are on TV it is noticed. We wear ours on our back, visible only when we are riding away. As it should be. For the real mark of a Christian is reflected on the back of Jesus. No marks-don't follow. The scars of 40 lashes-that's love. A message no shirt could convey. Taken for you, in love. So let me ask, what's on your shirt? Does it reflect what is in your heart?
Coming or going-we'll know the difference. And so will God. Jesus Christ, still the ultimate fashion statement after 2000 years. Witness by the spirit or by t-shirt? Only one is real ministry. You can ride a Plonker, or be one. Who are you pleasing?
love with compassion,
Mike
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