Our American Bulldog Clemenza loves to go for walks. Just say “out
front,”and she will appear, but say “walk,” and she starts to dance. And with
great energy will pull down the street, and knows what is ahead if we go left or
to the right and walk the golf course. Her nose is busy smelling out what went
on since her last visit, and she walks a fast pace, excited. But as we get to
our turn around point, she slows, taking more time to sniff, and when we start
back, is noticeably slower. With the last few steps almost in suspended
motion. She knows the walk will soon be over, and even the invitation to visit
Stella, her neighbor next door, only invigorates her for a minute. And then the
steps, which if you didn’t know her, you would think she is crippled. Slowing
to a stop-all because the walk has come to an end. And even if we try to take
credit for any obedience she has to us, it is us who are being trained by her,
as she knows the times of day we walk, and reminds us, with no clock to go by.
And she also knows when the walk will be over, slowing down wishing to get every
last second of time out of it. She walks like we ride...with great
anticipation. Until the end of the day.
Living back east, most of our escape routes pointed us west, to the wilds
of Pennsylvania, which by 4 o’clock would put the sun right in our face.
Combined with a day’s ride, tired, but still excited, we would push on, fighting
fatigue, not wishing the ride to end. But at some point one of us would be
overwhelmed with a sense of common, and we would stop, have something cold to
drink, maybe an early dinner, and watch the rush hour traffic as we reclined.
Re-energizing ourselves for a few more hours of daylight riding time, and to our
sometimes pre-determined goal. But on summer nights, the cool air would call,
and many an evening ride would follow. Not really going anywhere, just out for
a ride, where the roads that once called for high speed, now tell us it is OK to
just cruise. And outside of the city, you can hear the wind, bullfrogs,
crickets, and other sounds not heard in the day. Less people, more hearing, or
as they used to say in the eco friendly 70’s, less sound=more ground. Sitting
by a brook you might pass in the day, you find a certain peace just listening to
the water. Something about the dark makes what you can’t see more audible.
Conversation seem to be more important, and recalling the day’s ride brings
about anticipation of the ride tomorrow. After a timeless conversation, it is
back on the bikes, letting your headlight determine the pace, and just like
Clemenza, going slower as you know the day will end soon, and even though you
don’t want it to, it must, if only to have another begin in the morning. But it
is in the still of the night, without seeing faces that the voices identify the
talker, the mood is mellower, and after a day of anticipation, you can reflect.
These enchanted evenings, with no special agenda, are the perfect end to a
perfect day. And only made better when your riding partner is someone you
love. And my blessing is called Theresa.
A motel chain advertises a good night’s sleep and all the rest. But how
often do you fall asleep exhausted, only to wake up way before you need to, and
can’t get back to sleep. For me it seems my body clock is set for 3am, as I
seem to wake up then, and find it a great time to spend with God. No one else
is out at that time, and except for Mr. Man moving on the bed, the home is
silent. And just like the sounds of nature are accentuated at night, I can
hear God’s voice better without any background noise. NO interference, maybe
that is what makes night rides so special, where your mind can lead, and your
body follow. And so it is with God in the wee hours, His spirit calls, you
follow, and He leads you to a special place. No hurry, no agenda, just a
timeless time of peace. No phones, TV, or radio, just you and Jesus-a precursor
to the things of heaven.
Sadly these rides are not possible in a car, maybe that is why God made
motorcycles. No cruise, tilt, radio, AC, or isolated cabin. Just you and
nature-the wind in your face, and the things that God has created for you and
for you to enjoy. A look up reveals the stars in their glory, and a stop by
water can be breathtaking as you watch the moonlight glisten off of it. Light
in darkness, sounds in silence, and my 3am wake up is happening at 40 mph. And
you ask why we ride? God has created you for times like this, just you and
Him. Special time after a day spent just trying to get through it, a time when
life gets between you and God, and now He has you back again-His desire. And
when it is our desire to be with Him, the rides are that much more special, but
you can also spend time with God while not riding. Just being with Jesus can’t
be beat, but somehow when on two wheels, He makes it better. No proof I can
point to, take a ride tonight and see.
Some enchanted evening, you may meet a stranger...don’t go another night
without meeting Jesus. No need to be a stranger, He welcomes you. He loves to
ride, and even if you don’t, He is happy across the table, sitting at the beach,
walking the dog, or even at church. He goes where you go, the question is will
you go where He goes? Maybe those 3am talks are just what you need...or maybe
that after daylight ride. Only those who can see the invisible will hear Him
too. Walking with your Master, maybe Clemenza isn’t so dumb after all. Maybe
it isn’t the walk, but the time spent with us that makes it for her. “Walk?”
Maybe Jesus is asking you the same thing. And don’t hurry back, you don’t want
the walk to end and miss a happy ending! Let’s ride!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com