James Taylor and his wonderful voice burst onto the scene while I was in
high school. With hit after hit, and beautiful lyrics, some of us who were hard
core rock fans were drawn to him. His songs seemed to work better on the stereo
when having a girl over than Radar Love. Somehow the lyric “been drivin’ all
night my hands wet on the wheel...” never inspired a hugging and kissing
scenario for me, although this song would drive Por Favor nuts. To each his
own. Then he went and married Carly Simon, and her album with her blue sweater
drove many the adolescent boys crazy. This guy had it made, music, fame, and
Carly. But there was always one line in Sweet Baby James that has stuck with me
through the years, “with ten miles behind me, and ten thousand more to
go...there’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway..” And when
leaving town on every long trip, I sing this to myself when first hitting the
highway. For it always seems to be a highway that leads me out of town to
wherever I may end up, with the road the real destination. And just as all
journeys begin with the first step, all rides begin with the first mile. Also
with an anxiety, an unbelievable sense of I am free to do and go wherever I want
for the next 14-37 days. It is just me and my wife and the motorcycle-let’s see
how far our dreams can take us. And for the past ten years they have taken us
to 48 states and Canada-all on two wheels. Some trips shorter than others, the
longest 37 days, 31 states, and over 11,000 miles. From deserts to amber waves
of grain with purple mountain’s majesties separating them, it seems no end to
the roads and the memories that we set out on. But as many miles as we have
ridden, and all the places we have seen, the map is still covered with roads we
have yet to try, to places we have yet to visit, and people we have yet to
meet. With 10,000 more to go...
The first ten miles are often the toughest, as you go through the mental
check of all the things you needed to do so you can leave. Cat and dog taken
care of, mail stopped, neighbors watching the home...did I forget anything? And
as the miles add up, the cares get left behind, anything will have to wait until
we return. The road is our home now, and every night a new bed awaits us,
promising a good night’s rest, a time to review the ride of the day, and plan
for the next day’s. Home will be wherever we rest that night, and 10,000 more
to go. And it seems that this freedom is best explored on two wheels, with a
best friend. Over the years I have ridden cross country with groups, with a
friend, and also alone. I prefer alone, with just Theresa, the old rule you
only go as fast as the slowest rider applying here. We go our own pace, and
there have been times 250 miles took all day, while other times riding 600 miles
to a destination, had us on the road for another 250 after an early dinner. The
road has become a home, and a destination to us, a place we feel most
comfortable on, a place that takes us places greater than our imaginations, and
memories stirred years later when looking at the pictures. But 10,000 miles? A
dream to some, a curse to others, so we ride alone.
The Greeks felt that 10,000 was the largest number possible. Infinity to
us, and we find in scripture 10,000 referred to many times in the New
Testament. Speaking of God’s riches for us. And it seems every time we are
blessed, we have to rest, soaking it all in. No way He could ever surpass that,
but we have learned that only God can, and will, and does. We have taken the
scripture to heart, He gives you the desire of your heart, He plants it there,
and then fulfills it. Ten thousand of them! And so I often look back and thank
the Lord for all He has done, sometimes exhausting my dreams, and realizing that
I have only travelled 10 miles with God, and I have 10,000 more to go. Heaven
is infinite, 10,000 times 10,000, all with the Lord. But it takes a first step,
the first ten miles, and Jesus is the way. As a new Christian things all seem
new, and we are told how wonderful it all is, and sometimes how good things will
be. And then trouble hits, and many turn back, or away. Just a short trip with
Jesus, with so much more to go. They don’t trust their riding partner of life,
and stay within a local range, never seeing what lies over the hill, in the
canyon, or past the fields. They turn back just as the roads get challenging,
missing the blessing of riding them, and seeing God getting them through.
Missing out on life’s ride with Jesus, or worse yet, leaving Him behind when
they do, planning to the exact mile their trip, never leaving home, and never
seeing the blessings God has for them. Ten miles behind them is all their ride,
for their journey is seen through their own eyes, instead of God’s.
To those who believe, I urge them to take to the highway, just as James
sang on Country Roads. Not just escaping the urban blight to a more bucolic
road, but the whole country. Wake up in another time zone, eat a local
specialty for breakfast, watch a travel show and say “I’ve been there.” But
James also sings, “sail on home to Jesus..” and that is what really makes the
trip. Without Jesus they are just roads, with Him they are destinations.
Places to go until we meet in heaven, where ten miles is just a stroll, and
10,000 is an afternoon’s ride. God has endless blessings for us, we just need
to trust Him. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring sometimes because we don’t
know where we will be tonight, or tomorrow. Start your ride with Jesus today,
take to the highway won’t you good girls and boys. Jesus spent most of His
ministry on the road, could He have been a biker at heart? Laying the
groundwork for us today? You’ll nevr know until you do, with ten miles behind
me, and 10,000 more to go, make it one with Him. And each night a special
destination planned for you. But you will never know all the blessings until
you get out and go with Him. And at the end of each day, you’ll know where you
are supposed to be, promising a good night’s rest. Like the ad says, “He’ll
leave the light on for you.” For when we’ve been there 10,000 years, there will
be no less days to sing God’s praise. Now that’s a ride I don’t want to miss.
Like the sign on our front door says, “we ride, therefore we aren’t here.”
Reminds me of an empty tomb, maybe there is more to Jesus and riding than you
think!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com