As any biker knows, where your eyes go, your ride will follow. I know of
men who have ended up in ditches off the highway, just because they looked over
their shoulder thinking they saw something. On my one and only trip riding
without a helmet, I was in Ontario, when I thought I saw someone I recognized,
foolish thought as I lived in Albuquerque, and my glasses blew off. My
prescription glasses, and I could see OK, but not like when I wore them. So
quickly panicking, I needed eye protection now, I could still see to navigate, I
went into a Sears store, to buy sunglasses. Failing to notice how my hair was
sticking up from the wind, remember this was the perfect hair days of the disco
era, not like today where no one would notice, and I got some weird looks. At
least I think it was my hair. But in my case, my eyes had truly followed where
I was looking, fortunately it was only my glasses, and I had another pair at
home, only 800 miles away. Lesson learned, not only about glasses, but about
riding long distances without a helmet. I couldn’t hear for days, which was
probably looing back funny when I went to buy the glasses. She had to shout so
I could hear, drawing even more attention to us...boy was she embarrassed!
Talk to anyone who rides, and you will find that riding a motorcycle has
made them a better car driver. We constantly are scanning, looking ahead, and
in our mirrors, planning escape routes. We see things because we are looking,
and unlike those who aren’t, avoid accidents. The blue haired old lady in the
Buick who looks right at you, then pulls out anyway into your path the
exception. But there again proving where her eyes looked, she went. She just
didn’t see. But yet we set our sights on things on high, and follow the horizon
to see what’s ahead, without ever considering what lies behind or may be gaining
on us. Few know how to or even use their mirrors, and I once was told by a
Harley rider, helmetless, that mirrors were for hanging helmets on, which made
me think, “how would he know?” And one look at him, assured me he needed to
spend more time in front of the mirror, and that helmet laws also protect those
of us who have to look at guys like him. But using mirrors to guide can help,
as you never know who may be gaining on you, and mirrors are the number one
place that flashing lights from police cars come from. So are you more
concerned about lookin’ good, or in lookin’ good? Maybe that old quote about
the lead dog is true, the view never changes for those who follow. But to the
leader, I just hope he is lookin’, good.
“Keep your eye on the ball,” all golfers have heard too many times. And
how many air swings have we all committed looking up to see where the ball was
going before we even hit it? It seems we are more concerned about where we hope
it goes, as opposed to making it go. Via contact. So in a different light we
see riding as different from golfing-one boring and looking ahead to what we
have missed, the other exciting, and looking ahead to the next curve. We enjoy
the ride, looking ahead, unless you look back and lose your glasses...And no I
don’t play golf, it has been decades. Made me a better rider, ducking golf
balls when riding by a range, a driving range! I rather go for a ride than be
taken for one.
So why do we look to the finite when we are looking for an infinite God?
Just doesn’t make any sense to me. Think about it, men who seek the God of the
universe through science, who rather experiment than find. Who postulate rather
than experience the living God. Great and not so great musicians who try to
find God in their music, ending up in search of the lost chord. Novelists
hoping for the right words to describe God to others, and fall short. How do
you describe an infinite God in finite terms? Like or as, He isn’t. We are.
Like sheep who have all gone astray. God doesn’t stray, we have, God wasn’t
looking for us, we are looking for Him-He isn’t lost, we are. And so we
inevitably fall short, looking for what we hope to see in finite terms, when we
should be seeking God in spiritual terms. On His level.
But fortunately He sent Jesus to lead us to Him. To bridge the gap of
finite and infinite. He became a mortal to bring us immortality. He became a
man, because we could never be a god. There already was and is one. So what
are you looking for from God? Wealth, power, riches? Or are you looking for
the things of God, love, joy, and peace? Is God a genie in your lamp, who you
ask for wishes, and when He doesn’t perform as you demand, do you get another
lamp? Where do you turn in times of trouble? Your bike, car, bank account,
your i-pod, or a rich relative? Again where your eyes go, you will follow. And
the path may not be one you wish to go down. And one you don’t have to.
Maybe the answer is in drugs, finding God why in an enlightened state of
decay? Are you looking for the high, and when you find it, what happens when
you come down? What do you look for then? Maybe that something is really a
someone, His name is Jesus. And He is available now to all who seek Him. He
comes down to our level, and brings us up to His, not bringing Him down to
ours. For what customer tells the cook how to cook, or what rider tells the
mechanic how to fix his ride? Yet we have no problem telling God, our creator
how to do things for us. And heaven help Him when He doesn’t, thankfully heaven
helps us.
Now creature comforts, motorcycles, good food, and nice things are OK in
their right. But only Jesus saves, as promised. Technology will not get you to
heaven. Nor will 150 hp at the rear wheel. Music may brighten the mood, but
what happens when the song ends? The road ahead may seem clear, but what
happens when something else catches your attention, and you lose your sight or
your glasses by looking back? What happens when you aim at the Bots dots in the
road, you don’t miss them, you hit them. So set your sights on things on high,
just like the Bible says. Look to God, not His creations. Seek and find, you
will not be disappointed. But keep in mind, where you are looking will be where
you go. You may be good lookin’, but are you lookin’ good?
Make peace with your maker today, no one has ever fought God and won.
Don’t argue with Him, His terms are not negotiable. They are infinitely
finite. And seek a Moses experience, where you get so close to God that there
are no words to describe Him. How you describe an infinite God tells us how you
picture Him. I see an empty cross, and His scarred hands. I see my savior,
Jesus. I cannot think of a better argument for eternal life. He won, the cross
is empty. So is the tomb. Where your eyes go, you will follow. Keep your eyes
on Jesus. Lookin’ good never looked so good.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com