No matter what your passion, there is a dream escape for it. Maybe just a
travel brochure, or a place that only live deep within your subconscious, but no
matter, it exists. For a golfer, it may be playing at Augusta or Pebble Beach.
For a fisherman, it may be a full crew assisting on a deep sea excursion. If
you have never been to Sisters, Oregon, you don’t know what quilters lust for in
their dreams. Corvette owners get to visit the plant in Bowling Green, and
watch them built and see a first rate museum. Favorite game show on TV, you can
get a chance to see Vanna or Trebek live in the studio audience. How many spend
thousands just to get a ticket to the Super Bowl, an anticlimax to the week
preceding it? Some wish they could have seen the Beatles, or Elvis in concert.
I hear Comicon is already a sell out, for next year, and I have booked my rooms
for next year’s Hollister Rally. The Daytona 500 has even races now twice a
year, two times the chance to see and attend. Big dreams, maybe ones that are
just out of reach are the most desired, like a pardon from the governor, a check
in the mail from your rich aunt’s estate, not knowing you had either one. Great
expectations have been known to keep us alive, and the spark growing into a
flame, to keep us moving towards a goal, no matter how ridiculous or far fetched
it may seem.
But for those of us who ride, who really like to ride, just give us a road,
some cash, and a weekday with no traffic. Throw in a friend or two, not just
any body, and we’re out living our dream. And I have been blessed over the
years being able to ride so many places. Every year it seems someone writes a
ten best road article, and I have done most of them. Skyline Drive-both in San
Francisco and Shenandoah Valley. Natchez Trace, you can have fun going slow and
straight. Ever ride to Key West? Better than even your mind can see. The
Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, did you know there was one? Of course, Grand
Canyon, but north or south rim? Gold Rush Highway can be the best two days
riding, including history. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a must, I have
seen it in two seasons, amazing how 60 days makes a difference. I could go on
with the Snake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Hiway 1, the Columbia River Gorge,
old US 30 is preferred, and even the Oachitas are inviting, ever heard of them?
All famous roads of one sort or another, but it is the daily roads you get to
ride close to home that can be new and exciting.
For years we went across country, counting states and time zones as
markers, this summer was central California. Visiting roads we used to go away
for on weekends, now we stretched them over 10 days, and had great fun. No
hurry, we even went back and rerode a few sections, but still managed to miss a
few, so we will have to go back. Indian Valley Road was inviting, but another
time. We missed riding to Parkfield, another time. Back and forth from the 101
to Hiway 1 and Hearst Castle, next time. Horse Thief Canyon Road, another
time. Carmel Valley Road will have to wait, maybe combine it with a trip to
Laguna Seca. Hiways 9, 17, and Alice’s were only within 45 minutes, yet we will
go another time. For it seems there are always so many roads, so little time,
and so many memories yet to be made on them, if only we had the time...
But what if you had the time, would you do it? Do you really
wish to have your dreams fulfilled, or are they better off just as dreams, of
things desired, but not expected? Even an old Eagles line asked, “ what do you
do when your dreams come true, and it’s not quite like you had planned it?”
Given the chance, would you go? What if today was that day, that all your
dreams came true, and you said no? You overslept, or were busy talking on your
cell? What if you missed the exit, but planned to get off at the next one,
which never came? What if...your whole life was what if? Many live their lives
like this, wondering what it is like, but never knowing. Sadly many live their
Christian life like this too. They come to Christ, but are never discipled, and
never grow. They sit in church and never get out and experience Jesus in real
life, missing out on the Bible coming alive. Recently a man joined us on
Tuesday night at Dustin Arms, after sitting in church 11 years and never doing
anything. And now he is able to see Jesus come alive in the lives of others.
Ministry is like a new toy, a desire he never knew he had, or existed, and now
life has meaning, more than just words on a page, or red letter’s capturing the
words of Jesus. Now he is living the gospel, and seeing it come alive. We are
told many are called, but few are chosen. Which can apply to many levels of
life, and scripture, but he now knows how the harvest in plentiful, but the
workers few, and how Jesus has blessings, abundant blessings, for the few who do
answer and are chosen. He has joined the few, feeding hungry folks, and
listening, and even praying with them, he gets to see Jesus as He fed the 5000,
healed the sick, and talked with the woman at the well. His expectations have
been exceeded, and wants more, and is giving more. And just like so many roads
to ride, he has seen there are so many places to minister, that needed him to be
the one to do it. After watching the parade, he has decided to join it.
Mark Twain once said “the only thing worse than not getting your
heart’s desire, is getting your heart’s desire.” Aim low enough, you can hit
the ground every time. What is your desire, what is your target? Do you wish
more of Jesus, or are you content in a comatose relationship with Him? Is
church your whole experience? Remember Jesus taught in the temple, but
ministered on the streets. And we used to visit the temple, until we became the
church, and our bodies the temple that He lives in.
So what is your passion? God will give you one, He already
has. So wake up, watch the scriptures come alive as you do. Some of my best
rides have been based on “I wonder where that road goes?” You will never know
until you get out, and take a path you never have before. For my friend it all
started on a Tuesday night, now also Saturday mornings. He used to study the
word, now He is living it. Take the next step after walking in faith, and be
obedient to what God has put on your heart. Golfers need Jesus too, a great
Sunday morning ministry. Quilters need Jesus, as do rock fans, football fans,
and bikers. Take the church to them, be one of the chosen. And it can all be
as close as your back yard. Or your home. If you can’t ride the small roads,
how do you expect to make the long trips?
Where would you be if no one had offered you a ride, or told you
about Jesus? What are your ten best rides? What are your best ministry times?
The best are yet to come.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com