Mention New York and the mind instantly dreams up visions of skyscrapers,
large crowds of people, and the Yankees. But to the unitiated it would miss the
beauty of riding in the Hudson River Valley, of upstate New York with small
towns and great roads. Mention LA and all you envision is mile after mile of
traffic packed freeways, but get off on the side streets, go to the beaches, and
Griffith Park and find another LA waiting to greet you. Philadelphia, which
once booed the Pope, and I think of potholes and Frank Rizzo, the mayor in the
seventies who advocated getting the criminals off the street and onto the police
force, where they belonged. But you would miss all the Colonial history, and
cheese steaks. Worth some potholes trying your suspension. How about
Minnesota, with mosquitoes the size of small cats, and you would miss towns
along the Mississippi like Red Wing, and some great rides there, doncha know.
Michigan is more than rust, and a decaying Detroit, it is the Mackinac Bridge,
the Upper Peninsula, Yuppers to us low landers, and the Henry Ford Museum and
Greenfield Village. Finally mention New Jersey and all most people know about
it is the Sopranos, and the opening pictures of it from the Turnpike, my friend
Bikerjim used to live off Exit 13. And you would miss the beauty of Hunterdon
County and horses, riding along the Delaware-although Route 32 on the
Pennsylvania side is more to my liking, and subs. No other place like it. And
so we all live in a preconceived, viewpoint of our surroundings, prejudiced if
you will, although most never set out to find out for themselves.
Motorcycling is like that. "It's dangerous,"says the soccer mom, as she
texts while driving, with a car load of kids. Guns kill, although history shows
not one killing without a hand to pull the trigger, and remember the west was
won with a gun. See black leather jackets and immediately you think of
motorcycle gangs. See a can with Heart Healthy on it, and you assume it is,
until you read the sodium content. WOW-a healthy hardening of the arteries? So
you see, first impressions are not always what they appear to be. My latest
ride on a Triumph Trophy SE proves that. I like small simple bikes that go
fast, this one is big, with so many electric gizmos I can't remember them all,
even an electric windshield. But I love it, and the more I ride it, the more I
want to ride it, and the farther I want to go-almost 1000 miles in the past five
days. And it has changed my attitude to big touring bikes, this one handles
like a sport bike, has killer brakes, and is comfortable. Even my passenger
gives it the thumbs up, so it must be OK. But it took me daring to ride one to
find out, changing my perspective of big bikes. Did I mention that at less than
700 pounds it weighs 200 pounds less than a Gold Wing, and about the same
difference as on an Ultra Glide? I've averaged 42.5 mpg for the entire time,
per the onboard computer-match that Wing guys at 90mph! OOOPS.
So our prejudices not only show our short sidedness, but our ignorance.
And we miss too many things because of them. Can an old dog learn new tricks?
Are you willing to try? BARK! BARK! Two means yes.
Most people have preconceived notions about religion. Baptists have too
many rules, Lutherans are steeped in tradition, and Catholics have the Pope.
Yet I have Baptist friends who ride, and would love to be given the chance to
love on you, despite your prejudices. Lutherans are big on Christian
education-who is teaching your kids about the Bible, and Jesus? Ever stop to
count the many Catholic hospitals? Why don't we see any atheist, Mormon, or
Jehovah Witness hospitals? Where is their love? Prove me wrong if I am
prejudiced. But along with that we don't get Jesus at all. A Muslim table set
up at Balboa Park was trying to explain who He was, and how they accept Him,
nice huh? Great teacher and prophet, but the Son of God? Deity-no way. Two
out of three may make the Hall of Fame-but not heaven. My LDS friend, again
denying His deity. And He is not the brother of Lucifer like you espouse. And
using His name in your religion won't save you, sorry no planet awaits your
kingship. Maybe a good thing you still don't practice blood letting, or do
you? So much of your church is not open to the public. JWs, he is who He said
He is-God incarnate. And not believing in hell doesn't mean you won't go
there. You need Jesus, and your crafty rewriting of scripture will not rescue
you. Ask yourself, would you follow a God who is stupid? You may be. Your
choice.
Yet Jesus is who He says He is-the Son of God. And God incarnate. He died
voluntarily, unlike the Rolling Stones version on Sympathy for the Devil-more
lies. And He rose again, after three days, just like He said He would. Do you
think maybe He is worth the time to check into, to find out the truth about?
Consider the fact that if God is for you, who can be against you? Or the fact
you cannot make it to heaven except through Him? Is that narrow thinking, or
just simple theology so as to not be confused. Ever fail a test by 1 point?
Those who tell us you that you are saved by good works lie about the gift He
offers-by faith. So can we put aside our prejudices, and get to know just who
Jesus is?
When you think of Jesus, what do you see? Is He who He says He is, or do
you follow man's corrupt version? He asked Peter, "who do you say I am?" And
Peter, who was known for impulsive wrong actions, answered correctly,"thou art
the Lord, the savior." Good answer. What is yours?
Lasting impressions are more important than first ones. Even in Jersey,
not everyone gets off at exit 13. Where do you get off?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com