You waited all week to go riding with your friends, but as you look outside that cloudy, Saturday morning, you have your doubts. The weatherman says rain, and that doesn't fit your plans. So you call, and decide to stay home rather than brave the rain. Only to be bummed out later as your friends who braved the half hour of drizzle had a great time all day-seems it stopped raining within 30 minutes and the sun was out all day! And warm! A bad call, particularly when listening to all the fun they had. Lousy weatherman, but it is really your decision you have to blame.
Waking up on another Saturday, you have the same plans, and the weather is great. Cool, but it will warm up, you head to the mountains with your friends, looking forward to breakfast. But after 30 minutes, the clouds come in, and as you gain altitude, it starts to rain. You decide to turn back, but your friends go on. And later when they call you at home, tell how the sun came out over the next ridge, and it was warm all the way down into the desert. Again, a too quick decision ruined a great day of riding.
Now I am well known as waiting to the last moment to put on my riding suit. Unless I am soaked to the skin first, I won't put it on. So following my typical procedure, we stopped and put on our suits after being soaked. We were just outside Gettysburg, standing under a cover of an abandoned gas station with others who were soaked. While waiting for the shower to stop, we met another couple up for the day from Maryland. "I watched the weather today," he said, "and they said 50% chance of rain. I figured that was 50% chance of sun, so we went riding. And I 'm glad we did, it was a beautiful morning." And to be a beautiful afternoon, with a huge rainbow after the shower. Wise advice from one who lives where it rains, great advice on this afternoon.
On any long trip, plan on rain. And last summer after braving 110+ degrees days with hot winds in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, we were exhausted. Leaving Pine Bluff the next morning, it was overcast, so no rain suit-yet. Within 20 minutes we stopped again, thanks Lord for abandoned gas stations, and put them on, a first for me as I was still dry. But for the next 400 miles we would be in hard rain-extreme the Weather Channel called it, lightning, and thunder. And then it stopped, it got warm, the sun came out, and the roads dried. Hello Birmingham! And the ride was worth it, for at the end was a beautiful day, which led into many others to come. The rain serving many purposes-it cooled things off, it made us pray more, lightning is scary when you can see it hitting the ground, and it gave us great expectations of sunshine to come. Not to mention the priceless looks you get from people in cars who think you're crazy. Note-we are, about riding!
Life is a long trip. Expect rain and storms in your life. Every day is not sunny and dry. So God allows storms to allow things to grow-including your trust in Him. He is the safe refuge from the storm, amazing how welcome a leaning, old cover can be in an abandoned gas station. He is the rain suit keeping you warm and dry, resting in His arms. He is the sunshine on the other side of the clouds, where it is always sunny. And He is the rainbow, reminding you how He will never leave you or forsake you. And He is the loving one who travels with you, rain or shine, and wants to be part of all your trips, and all your precious memories.
Only on a motorcycle would the weather have mattered. We could have done all the travelling in a car, and missed making friends, getting wet, and looking at rainbows. Turn up the heat, turn up the tunes, and grab a Big Gulp. Safe and secure from life, but not part of it. Maybe that is why we ride, so we can be part of life. So we can experience the things of God first hand, from behind the handlebars instead of from behind a windshield. An experience that brings us closer to God, which is what Jesus was sent to do. A time to reflect, sing, and praise Him as we go through the storm, instead of changing our plans when the clouds come. And it is in the storm we seek Him more!
You never question the sky or clouds when traveling in a car. But on a motorcycle you watch the sky, smell the air, and feel the wind change direction. You sense the temperature change as you go up and down through valleys and hills, and make decisions based on what you see-as opposed to what you are told. It is more personal, an actual ride of life, rather than just another trip in the car. A day riding like this is like the freedom Jesus gives from religion. You trust Him more, you experience more, and with friends you are building better memories-testimonies we call them. And when your best friend is Jesus, you know the time will be well spent.
What you do the next time it rains will tell as much about your riding as your relationship with God. Put on the rain suit, and be patient. No rainbow with rain, and no Easter without Good Friday. The only way to look back is by going forward first, and trusting God. The bigger the storm, the bigger the memory. And the brighter the sun afterward. Don't stay home when you could be out riding. The road calls, and its name is Jesus!
And it is even OK top put on your rain suit before the storm! Secure in the Lord!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com