After numerous trips from coast to coast on the Tiger, we had become old
riding pals. 48 states and 80,000 miles in six years will do that. But coming
up on the second anniversary of being life flighted from Durango to Albuquerque
and having open heart surgery, I was thinking of how I had to leave her in
Durango, with no thought of how she would get home. In Dal’s good care, Theresa
had numerous offers, and was busy with her 200 pound two year old, me
recovering and trying to find housing and running our home in Escondido from
1000 miles away, but when two Harley riders offered, and humbled themselves one
weekend to pick her up when they could have been riding, things changed. They
saw the personal side of the need, and how important the relationship between
man and machine was, and also between man and God. Ken and Ned, two Black
Sheep, men I respect for who they are in Christ, put their words into action.
And I say humbled, because Triumphs and Harleys don’t mix, they didn’t on the
race track for years, and with so many buying into the Harley lifestyle, many
would have passed on the chance. But these men showed love way above and
beyond, saying more with their actions than many pastors do with their words.
And when I asked Ned about being conspicuous trailering a Triumph, he told me
they wore masks. To protect the innocent. But something changed on my Tiger
that trip. She had never been trailered before, a true thoroughbred who had
completed every ride she started. And so when the clutch cable broke, and she
had to be trucked to Mickey’s, I thought of the old Harley joke, “What does HD
stand for? Hound dog, as they like to ride in the back of pick ups and mark
their spot.” And this previously never trailered bike has now come home like
this four times. So I wonder, what really went on, what kind of conversations
were my Tiger privy to? Has she become a trailer queen in her old age, or had
something else gone on. Does she think she’s a Harley now, and it is acceptable
to ride in a trailer rather than being ridden? Many other questions arise, but
I’ll never know, as no one ever asked how my motorcycle felt.
After waking up four days later from a coma after surgery, the number one
question I was asked was “how did this change your life?” And my immediate
answer was “I never want to go through this again.” Good answer, but they were
to change, and become even more personal. More personal than all about me?
After seeing the affect on my wife and sons, my answer changed to “I never want
my family to go through this again.” It had become even more personal. One
afternoon when praying I asked God about why He had spared my life, why He
allowed me to make history? Nothing special about me, why had He chosen to keep
me here on earth. I had seen heaven, and I want to return. His answer was
simple, grace. Now I thought I had a handle on grace, it is for me, right? But
His grace showed me how it was for my family-my wife isn’t a widow, and my sons
aren’t orphans. My living was God showing grace to my family. How’s that for
an answer. But He wasn’t done, and as the year progressed, I saw Andrew get a
new job, out of nowhere, a blessing, and Christopher living his dream as a
musician. He had been touring in Spain when I got sick. And now God’s grace
allowed me to see the joy both my son’s were enjoying, something I cannot
express in words, but God knows, and knew. And still He wasn’t through with me,
for He showed me again grace isn’t just for me, but can be seen through me. My
sons got to see me blessed by their happiness, and that means even more. They
got to see me see them! They get to see their father proud of them, and again I
saw a different side of grace. That of a loving father being blessed by His
children, watching them being blessed. And I had come so close to missing all
that, if not for the grace of God, I would have. So be careful asking me about
my life changing event, because God has an answer for you that may surprise
you. And when that answer brings full glory to God, you get the full blessings,
and sometimes they take years to receive.
But in all of those who asked, only two men asked how it changed my
relationship with God. One a friend who is a pastor, and has gone through a
serious medical condition, the other my doctor, who has known me for 20 years.
And the answers I gave have had a profound impact on both....again grace,
amazing huh?
Now in the motorcycle world, more than Harleys and Triumphs need to be
trailered. I have trailered Kawasakis, Hondas, and I had a Yamaha that I think
actually rather be trailered than ridden. I have had Suzukis leak, KTM’s mark
their spot, and have BMW’s weep all over the ground, BMW’s don’t leak, they weep
oil. My floor never knew the difference. So all bikes can and will have a
chance to ride in a pick up some day. So move over Harley, share the ride. But
that weekend Ken and Ned left a mark in my life that I can never thank the
enough for. You see Jesus has prepared a spot for them in heaven, and marked it
with His blood, just for them. And when it is time, He will carry them home, if
they can’t ride. And I think of all the times He carried me, when I couldn’t
ride, or wouldn’t ride, or didn’t know the way. He loved me no matter who I was
or what I rode, again His grace. Might just change your attitude about what and
how you ride, who you ride with-and live. So if someone asks you how Jesus has
changed your life, tell them. Brag on God, tell of His amazing grace, tell them
about your ride in the trailer. No one ever asked my motorcycle how it felt
about being abandoned by me, but if it could I’m sure it would be thankful to
Ken and Ned. The grace of God shown by two Harley riders to this Samaritan
Triumph rider. I only hope when she gets the chance she tells me what they said
to her....this trailer thing has got to end, we should all be riding! How has
God changed your life, we are wanting to know...and your answer is....Ned, now
about that mask?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com