More than at any time in history, we have the healthiest people on the
planet dying. Just for sake of argument, say you will live to 75, a fair
average for many. You sleep 8 hours per day all your life, you will be asleep
for about one third of your life, or 25 years. Say you are into working out, 5
hours per week starting at age 21, you just spent another six years a the gym,
staying healthy. And still facing death. And looking back, I don’t want to
have spent six years of my life sweating, grunting, toiling, and going home
tired, just to improve my life. And when young, do you look forward to the days
ahead of exercise, or of retirement? Can’t wait until I’m 70, and retired, then
I can go work out more. Is that what you worked you r whole life for? Not me,
I believe in being in shape, or more accurately healthy, but I am tired of
exercising. For me I rather be exercising the tires on a motorcycle, and look
back with the same fondness I look ahead with, riding until I die. I rather take
inches off my tires, and add inches to my memory book of going places, seeing
things, and making memories. A sweaty gym is a poor substitute for a full tank
of gas, a twisty road, and the time to do it. So if I am going to exercise
anything , it will be my tires. And my wrist...
Now I am not anti-healthy, but watch in wonder, and sometimes horror as
people devote their bodies to their physique. And just another commercial of a
Nordic Track, or some other exercise equipment that promises you great shape
with ease will make me sick. How many homes have you gone into and seen the
stuff filling a room, gathering dust, while its owner is waiting for the next
machine workout that promises the same thing, and delivers the same thing, as
your is emptied. Compare the mile son your stair climber to the miles on my
Tiger. 48 states, memories, beautiful sunsets, and unforgettable meals. What do
you have, watching CNN while treading on a treadmill, isn’t life enough of a
treadmill already? I have been in the wind, smelling the fragrances of orange
blossoms, of wheat fields, or of the ocean mist. You have the smell
of...yourself. And others. While you are building endurance, so am I. Can you
ride 500 miles per day for a month, that takes endurance? Can you wear all the
tire on your exercise bike, I can on any of my bikes. And how many postcards
have you ever sent, or received, saying “having a great time, wish you were
here!” from someone at the gym? Given two weeks off per year, where do you want
to spend it, is your idea of cross training crossing as many state lines as you
can like mine? Or time zones? How many workouts have you had that are
unforgettable, and how many of them do you proudly show on your Facebook page?
So for me, staying in shape is riding as much as I can. A daily regimen
of miles, smiles, and looking back at roads I look forward to again. Of seeing
how fast I can enter a curve, and how fast I can exit it. At eating breakfast
in San Diego, and diner in Flagstaff. And lunch the next day in
Albuquerque...green chilies instead of powdered paste. Exercising my mind, as
well as my body, and spending time with God, no phones, timers, or personal
trainer telling me how I need to increase. If it’s early, I ride on. If I want
to stop and visit, I do. With the recipe of repeat the next day the only
requirement of tomorrow, and sleeping well, looking forward to more miles, not
more reps. Building endurance that will endure for years in my memories, and
stories for both old and young. Meeting older riders, with stories and of roads
yet to travel, how many seasoned citizens do the youth work out with? No age
group criteria when riding, we ride our own ride. And respect others for
theirs. And you wonder why I rather ride than go to a gym? Where else can you
get a workout like I do, exercising your tires?
So based on the equation, you have spent 31 of your 75 years already. Now
figure working for 40 years, 50 weeks per year, and add another 38 years of life
spent, leaving you 6 years of life left, if you are average. So what do you do
with those six years is important. But what if you only lived to be 33 like
Jesus did? And what if you were only in ministry for 3 years like Him? How do
you plan on spending your 6 years, can you make them as important and valuable
as Jesus did with His 3? Too many times I listen to people boast of what they
are going to do when they retire, and many times find it is things you could be
doing now. Start riding, start living, start being a Christian now. Why wait
for the blessings of God when you can have them now? Exercise your freedom in
the spirit, and you can even do it at the gym, or while riding. I find Jesus
spent most of His time on the road, an example I like to follow. He ate with
new friends, went places no others would go, and had them follow. He slept
every night with the promise of a new tomorrow, another day to show the love of
God, another day for salvation for someone. He made the most of everyday, never
missing a chance to spread His love to a lost and dying world. And we are all
dying, Second Law of Thermodynamics proves it, how do you wish to spend your
last days, I know how I want to spend mine. Tomorrow is promised to no man, so
start living today, and follow Jesus. Start exercising the freedom you have
that you have never used, and watch as when you get into spiritual shape, your
mind will follow. You will enjoy health you never knew you had, and when tough
times come, you can spend it with Jesus, who is the ultimate trainer. He was
physically tough, can you carry a 200 pound cross to your death, after being
beaten with 39 lashes? And hang there for 6 hours nailed to it? A physical
side to Jesus we tend to forget. but needs to be remembered. So when He asks
you “to pick up your cross and follow Him,” what kind of shape are you in?
The healthiest people are still dying, are you dying to go to heaven?
Exercise the freedom you have in Jesus. Some may enjoy the sweat and toil of a
good workout, while those of us who ride rather enjoy a good day of riding.
Either way get a spiritual exercise with Jesus, getting in shape for heaven.
Use those 6 years you have to your advantage by following Him. Long after the
sweat has evaporated, the odor of life still remains. I rather smell of racing
castor and miles of sun than hours of seat and the gym. Wherever you spend your
time, Jesus is there. And realize you will never have a better workout partner,
or riding partner. And you can go where He leads if you follow. It is your
choice for the memories you make, make them with the future I mind. Where you
will spend the future is your choice. For me and mine we will exercise our
tires with Jesus. Never heard of a workout gym in heaven, but it does speak of
roads paved with gold....wonder what that could mean?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogpsot.com