CRASH! BAM! It was all over in the blink of an eye, and I was
laying between the road and my Bonneville, pinned under a car. A car that had
pulled away from the curb without looking, and hit me. Biker down. And the
police told me it was my fault, which they finally recanted under pressure after
they investigated. Biker prejudice for all to see. All the screw ups by
Escondido PD is another story, but off I went to the hospital, and the Bonne to
Mick. I would never walk the same, but what of my bike? My fun ride? What
would be her fate? Left up to some impersonal insurance adjuster, that worked
for her company? And Mick gave me the choice, he could save it or total it,
what to do? I made the right choice-fix it, and he did, better than new, with
some custom touches, a Scrambler short fender, and headlight and shorty front
fender, just custom enough to still look stock. Maybe even what the factory had
considered. Her insurance company paid for my medical and to fix the bike, and
the event of that March afternoon faded into history. Until one sunny Saturday
afternoon, October 17th to be precise, when riding with Theresa. I had gotten
ahead of her at the light, a Nissan Maxima between us. And when the light
changed to green, I accelerated....
And again BAM! I was flying up in the air, then landing on the
hood of the Nissan, then bouncing off, landing on my knees some 20 feet away!
Instant pain and confusion set in. Biker down-again. And the woman-again a
woman gets out and tells me not to tell the police she was driving-she had lost
her license. Not paying attention, she hit the gas by accident, looking back
when her grand daughter in the back seat called her, and hit me full force,
pushing my Bonneville, again, some 40 feet stuck in her front bumper. So hard
was I hit the bike never went down, and had to be pried out of her car! The
police were livid when they arrived, why she wasn’t arrested I don’t know, but
found out she had breast cancer, and was terminal. Sad, but still no excuse-she
should not have been driving, JAIL her! How many of us would have been shown
the same mercy? But the toughest part was for Theresa, as she had watched the
whole thing happen, right in front of her. And had to ride home alone on her
Bonneville. One tough, but tender lady. And I would heal, mostly with some
after effects, and my Bonne again went to Mick. Where the decision again had to
be made-fix it or total it. Again we fixed it, using parts he had, and actually
came out OK on the deal, but would still be better if it hadn’t happened. And
my legs still hurt, I still walk with a limp, and still have the Bonneville.
Parts available for both, the bike easier to fix than my legs. But still we
ride....
Most are amazed that I still ride, but I take the attitude that
I don’t want to spend life in fear of what can happen, I rather enjoy life, and
yes I know that idiots in cars can be dangerous. Just like guns that don’t
kill, it takes the one holding it or driving it to cause the damage. So no,
motorcycles themselves are not dangerous, just as cancer victims aren’t, until
they drive illegally, and irresponsibly. And we meet by accident. Then it may
take all the king’s horses and all the king’s men to put you back together
again. Or a good attorney like I had, Leventhal and Shapiro, I cannot say
enough good about Stan and Steve. They won my case in less than a week, I got
the money, and their fee was half of the usorous 33%. I am careful who I
recommend, they are the best, they do what they say, and they win. A somewhat
happy ending to a possible tragedy.
Now it has been said that resurrection power works best in
graveyards. You cannot resurrect something that wasn’t alive once. Mickey
resurrected the Bonneville, and she is still dragging her pegs at high speeds at
67,000 miles. My body healed for he most part, although I am now permanently
disabled. Theresa still rides, and her Bonne has over 77,000 miles. So we
soldier on....But all could have ended in a worse tragedy-death. And then
what? You can fix the body, repair the bike, even replace it if needed, but
what about the soul? What happens to a damaged, unsaved soul? What happens to
those who decide to wait to come to Christ, when I ‘m older? And what if they
never make it to older? Planning to choose Jesus is still saying no-and no is
no heaven. Good intentions don’t count, being born again does. Now I have
visited and know many who have come to Christ near death, which better than
dying without Him. But we are warned that no one is promised tomorrow, who
knows what lies behind you at any traffic light? Who is ready to pullout and
take away your life? And yet some insist on waiting....some missing only the
blessings they could have had, some missing altogether. And it is their choice,
just like it was mine and is yours. Where will you be after death, tormented or
resurrected? No parts or fixes in hell- your life is now totaled. It is the
scrap heap, Gehenna as they called it, fueled by those who denied Christ, and
burn forever. But choosing Jesus guarantees you of what He did, being
resurrected and heaven. A better deal than any lawyer can get you, a better
payoff than an insurance company can provide. On earth I had Mickey, Steve and
Stan, and Theresa. And Jesus to represent me. Without Jesus it would not have
been successful. But what if I had died, who would have represented me then?
Only Jesus, for on judgment day He is my wonderful counselor, who pleads my
case, who took my sin, and will see I am found innocent. He is the only way to
heaven, without Him you plead your own case, before a loving, but honorable
judge who knows all the specifics about you...and His mercy is denied you, you
chose to deny Him here on earth. And He honors your request, on earth as it
could have been in heaven. Over in the blink of an eye....no accident here, it
is your choice. So, what is your choice?
We all face death, but we don’t all face resurrection. Only in
Jesus Christ will we find salvation. So why not enroll today. Trust Him, and
ride in the knowledge that when death do your motorcycle and you part, that you
will be in heaven. You have the ultimate insurance, and assurance in Jesus.
All things will truly pass away, and only He remains. Now heaven is never
described, except to say eye has not seen, no rear heard, nor mind imagined the
things of God, but hell is described as darkness, extreme loneliness, the
absence of God, the weeping and gnashing of teeth. Burning fire in complete
darkness, with no escape. No last chance, no partying with friends. Eternal
separation from God. Now it is time to make a choice.
When it comes to helmets, I believe “let those who ride
decide.” God gives you the same choice on your eternal destiny. And your right
now. Give it up and gain everything, hold onto everything and lose everything.
Seems like an easy choice, don’t make it harder than it is. Bikes and
relationships on earth can be resurrected. What happens after death only Jesus
can resurrect. I made the choice to follow Jesus. My resurrection day is
coming, in the blink of an eye, quicker than the accident I didn’t hear or see
coming. Death is that quick. But so is eternal life....and so we ride on, how
confident are you of where your ride will end? What are you waiting for? To me
it is a who.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com