Ray and I have decided we are not getting old, but we are
getting older. We both love to ride, and at 70 Ray still rides 100
consistently, and has been 175 real mph on his Hayabusa. Not speedo speed, but
engine speed, a faster and better man than I. But he also rides a Gold Wing,
listening to the radio, for which we harass him, as we should. What speed
junkie listens to the radio while riding? Of course who else rides a Wing as
fast as he does, or corners it so well? I guess we can forgive him. But we
tend to agree, those of us who really ride, not for the lifestyle of it, that
radios are not for bikes, they belong at home or in cars. Ever hear the sound
of a Triumph triple at speed, music the ears. Same with a Harley throttle
opened up. We used to tell what was coming by the sound the engine made, now
dressers brag about the power of the sound system rather than the power the
motor makes. How far we have fallen...
Years back when I was bound by an occasional group ride, I now
do group rides of one which are more fun and entertaining, we had a road captain
who was more road apple when it came to riding. When leading he would jump from
60 to 80, then drop to 50, all with an open road, and no reason to slow down.
No consistency other than his inconsistent speed, and he drove many crazy, and
the crowd dropped. But being curious as to why he didn’t know how to ride, I
rode close to him on one ride, and you could hear his distorted loud music over
his open pipes. And as the song got faster, he sped up, as it slowed, so did
he. Try following him to Free Bird some time, this guy was riding to the
music! And now we know just how fast some classic songs really are, at least
through his riding skills, reinforcing that no one needs a radio on a
motorcycle. Picture this one if you can, “sorry officer, I was just listening
to the radio, and I sped up at the fast point in the song”...tell that one to
the judge. But he did, and I don’t know if he does anymore, my throttle hand is
connected to a motor, not a sound system. Do we see a problem here?
Turn off the radio! Pay attention to your riding! It may save
your life, or a fellow rider’s, or keep you from eventually riding alone. But
yet today, so many are into the sound systems, and even Harley on their water
cooled Ultra, aka the Shower Head, brags about a 6.5 inch screen for the sound
system-more screen than suspension travel! How far have we really come? And
where are we going? We now have Bluetooth in helmets, surround speakers on Gold
Wings, and cruise control-I will admit I have fallen prey to this one, and CD
players and the list goes on. On the recent 2014 Triumph Explorer I rode, it
has cruise, adjustable suspension, traction control, programmable ABS, and a
computer that tells me average mpg, speed, fuel left till empty, time riding,
and all this on a motorcycle designed to be ridden off road! Have we become
slaves to progress, or slaves to a little box controlling our lives? Strangely
enough, riding my Bonneville yesterday, which has none of these things, I missed
it. No ambient temperature gauge, no clock-I was left to my own decisions-with
no one else to blame if I went too fast, or got there l late. I even had to
switch my petcock over manually when I went on reserve-at 80 mph! I could even
tell how fast I was going by the speedo. I knew it was cold because I needed a
jacket and gloves. My wrist controlled the power, and the exhaust note sang the
song, and I could concentrate-meditate on the Lord. No device ever made can
replace that! And I did it all without missing a beat...have we finally
discovered the problem and it is us?
I am not against safety devices, but today in new cars that will parallel
park themselves, tell you when they need servicing, brake for you, and adjust
your speed for the conditions-automatically, we have improved everything but the
driver. And unless talking on a cell phone with car load of kids is a skill, we
have lost many of them. And when I see drivers like this, I used to blame them,
but someone drove with them while they took their test and passed them-blame
them! And some parent let their kid out and texts while driving, just like they
learned from Mom. Turn signals don’t look for a place to turn, they warn you I
am turning in front of you-look out. And don’t get me started about parking lot
druids who will block traffic, waiting for a space to empty, rather than walk
another 20 feet. Texting about the space they found. At least in Sagg Harbor,
NY they had real bodies who alerted you to open parking spaces, but then again
the rich are different. So where is all this leading?
Consider Moses for a moment...who led millions of people, thousands of
miles of 40 years. And he somehow did it without a GPS, he didn’t get lost,
never missed an exit for food and gas. Talk about a group ride, this poor guy
did it all without any technology other than God. How uncool was he? So uncool
the people complained about the food. They didn’t like the 10 Commandments, and
finally when Moses got so upset he smote a rock, God told him “ no entry for you
to the promised land.” Talk about a road trip, but consider your trip with God
today. Who is leading who? How many just reset their GPS when they get lost?
When they could trust God to get them where they are going-safely? How many
listen to so much Christian radio they know all the teachers, and the teachings,
yet don’t know the God that inspires them? How many set their life on cruise,
and then when trouble strikes blame God? Or worse yet, turn Him off completely
when there is nothing about Him on today that they are interested in? Maybe it
is a good thing Moses had no radio, I can see them arguing over to listen to,
“oh no not more Classic Abraham again?” Speeding up and slowing down to the
music. But there is a choice we have-we can tune into Jesus, and find
direction, purpose, and a way back to God unavailable anywhere else. A way of
love, and forgiveness, personified by of all people Peter. Who made many bad
choices, even being intimidated by a teenaged girl, good thing she never texted
her friends about him, but always kept going, not looking back, but looking to
Christ. He understood that he who sins more is forgiven more, and followed
Jesus to places he never would have travelled on his own.
Are you listening to the music or the Lord? Are you hard to
follow, because you are following your own song? Has progress impeded your
spiritual growth? Blame it on the radio...and turn it off. Turn to Jesus
instead, the original Classic Rock. He is the Rock, and listen to the music He
brings into your life. He can be heard at 100 mph, or while sitting at a
light. You can hear His voice clearly why talking with your kids, rather than
fighting to talk over their DVD. You can learn to walk with Him, in Him, rather
than hear a replay later. You can make the same trip Moses did, except enter
the promised land when you die. All by listening to Jesus...worth a try maybe?
We are all getting older, but don’t need to get old. We can be kids forever in
Christ. A choice I like. Never getting old, still going places, still pushing
the envelope, and enjoying life. Behind handlebars instead of in front of a
screen. Where your eyes go, you will follow, and what is on your heart will
come out of your mouth. Sadly what is on your radio may speak louder and say
more, trust Jesus today. Ultimate technology, ultimate life. Ultimate God.
Anything else may just be a recording. Blame it on the radio.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com