Riding east into Xenia, Ohio, the sun was brightly reflecting off my rear
view mirrors. But up ahead was quite a contrast, as the sky was as black as
night, and it was only 430pm-I was riding into a storm, and from the wind and
rain hitting me in the face, I started to look for shelter. And then the rains
hit-hard and fast, and before I knew it, I was riding in water over my foot
pegs. So getting off at the next exit, I turned off onto the exit ramp, and as
I rode to go under the over pass, I came upon a Mazda, with water over its hood,
and up to the windshield. No place to stop, I kept going, around it, and rode
through with water almost to the top of the tank on the Tiger-pretty high stuff
on this dual-purpose bike. But somehow managed to keep going, leaving the Mazda
in my wake. Going up a small grade, I pulled into a gas station, and parked
under the overhang, as the rain only got worse, and then the thunder and
lightning, cool stuff under any other conditions. Trying to pull off my helmet,
the ground shook with a bang, and I saw lightning hitting the bowling alley in
back of the station-about 200 yards away. Suddenly the gas station wasn’t quite
the safe haven I had first pulled into, and as flames erupted from the bowling
alley, I had to consider what was worse, a soaking or a burning! Within
seconds, which seemed like minutes, fire trucks pulled up to the fire, and
quickly put it out. I was not only amazed at how fast they responded, but how
the fire still burnt in this storm. And how within this ten minute episode, I
had blue and gray skies, high and low ground, fire and rain, and safety and
imminent danger, all within a mile of each other. But I was safe, albeit soaked
through my rain suit, and still had another 100 miles to my motel destination
that night. Cold, wet, squishy, and hungry-not at all the plan for the day, and
then the sun came out-and dried everything but me. I can still see the looks on
the other diners’ faces at the Bob Evans as I sat eating my hot turkey dinner,
while shaking. Everyone else in summer clothes, and not even a raincoat or
umbrella in sight. And I wondered if the Mazda driver was among them, giving me
the eye, maybe for not stopping to help. Maybe an episode for the Twilight
Zone, but too real for me.
Wet weather riding is not a favorite among those of us who ride, but you
know when riding back east, storms will hit. Afternoon showers on this
September afternoon not unexpected, just uninvited. And as the skies got
brighter, a not so dark shade of gray, I looked forward to tomorrow, with only a
20% chance of rain-hey that gave me an 80% chance of no rain. If only the 80/20
rule worked for weather. But I was safe, everything would dry that night, and
after eating at Bob Evans, why don’t we have anything like this in California, I
slept good. But was up early to the sound of thunder. Fortunately it was a
group of Harley riders taking off early, so I rolled over and slept another
hour. Just in time for the sun being my wake up call. The rains would wait
until later, when I had no place to stop, so rode on-for another 100 miles or
so. And for whatever reason I kept singing the Allman Bros. chorus, “you’re my
blue sky, you’re my sunny day, Lord you know it makes me high, when you turn
your love my way...”
Lord you know. Words to hang on, and words to trust in. Amazing in the
entire ordeal, I hadn’t got scared, but only anxious, and that was when waiting
to use the rest room while the bowling alley burnt. Somehow I knew God had
everything in control, even though the skies, rain, fire, and fire fighters said
different. I was more concerned at first for a woman in a black car almost
backing into me, don’t hit my bike after all I had just gone through! But
somehow I had this peace, one I didn’t get then, and don’t get know, but I knew
God was there, in the blue skies, just the other side of the rain. Maybe there
was some truth to the song, “Lord I know you make me high when you turn your
love my way.” And in the storm, He was there with me in the midst of it,
keeping me safe. He had taken me through the storm, not around it. Giving me a
chance to see His grace and mercy at work. Not a valley of the shadow of death,
but one that anyone with common sense should have been scared of, but I rode
on. Jesus Christ in a life will do that. Urging you on, despite the odds,
keeping you safe in the storm. And remembering the safest place to be is where
God wants you-I‘m glad He didn’t want me in the Mazda that day. Or bowling
either. But riding, and He was with me. Never leaving me, nor forsaking me.
He was the rider on the storm with me, wet, cold, upset, but not scared.
I had survived the darkness on the edge of town. I had come through the
storm, and would ride again the next day. In the rain, but then the blue skies,
and warm weather would greet me, and all would be forgotten, and forgiven. Well
at least forgiven, for another chapter had been written in my book of
testimonies. But a thought continues with me even today, I didn’t get mad at
God. I could have, so many blame anything they disagree on on Him. They get
mad, try to take it out on His people, and even on Him. No end to stupid, maybe
that is why it is designed to hurt. But a thought has been with me the last few
days, He loves us so much, and I can’t explain it. It makes no sense,
psychiatrists refuse to believe it, atheists deny His existence, poets write
sonnets about it, and theologians dispute it. The Allman Bros. sung about it.
But God’s love to us shows no wrath-yet. So to better understand it, He put it
to me this way. “It is hard to make a fist when a nail is piercing your hand.”
And it reminds me of Jesus. Whose arms and hands are open to us, never raised
in a fist, or clenched in rage. He loves, and sets the example. Can we do the
same in our reaction to Him? To others? How about ourselves, when the storms
come and ruin our ride?
The evidence is found in the hands of Jesus. The nail holes are there. To
show us love, to hold us up, to guide and point the way in the storm. So
unclench your fists, and show the love that He showed us first. Trust Him, and
guide others to Him. Let Him guide you. You may be entering a storm, sudden or
not, and even though the sun is shining, a storm is coming. And only He will
take you through it. Look to His hands, see the nail prints, and be glad His
hands are open to help, guide, and love.
Besides, you can’t twist the throttle when your hands are clenched in a
fist. Just a thought, from someone who has weathered a storm or two, safe in
His hands. And after the rain, there is a rainbow, another open hand of God
reminding us of His love. You only need a rain suit when it rains, never ride
without Jesus no matter the forecast. Remember those open hands...
love with compassion,
Mike
nmatthew25biker.blogspot.com