How many times have you passed something cool along the road and didn’t
stop? You may have been riding with someone, or even had a passenger along, and
figured you would talk about it at the next stop light, gas stop, or snack
stop. But when you mention it, the other person missed it, they don’t know what
you are talking about, and the more excited you were, the more they missed it,
and couldn’t care less. They needed to water a lemon tree and were looking for
a rest room, you were enjoying the road and nothing else. And you find although
you were both on the same ride, the same road, and maybe the same bike, you were
on two different trips. Many times I have been greeted with “did you see the
fill in the blank back there?” when I was only looking for the next turn.
Missing cops at high speed used to be a specialty of mine, slower speeds have
helped cure that. But often you can ride alone together, or is it together
alone, and both parties have taken a separate trip.
Over the years Theresa has taken thousands of photos from the back of the
Tiger, thanks to the gift of digital cameras. And when reviewing them when we
get home, many times I have to ask “where was that taken?” Only to get the full
story, and shaking my head in approval. But the scary ones are when I am in
them and still don’t remember...déjà vu only works if you remember. So when
looking at the pics, I look for landmarks, signs, road signs, or even license
plates to tell where I was, for what good is a memory if you don’t remember
it? And yet I still don’t remember but still go along for the ride. Almost as
bad is seeing something along the way and failing to stop. You know you may
never ride there again, yet you file it away for future reference, the next
ride. And you wished you had stopped, you wish you had taken the time, and
later read about what you missed when you get home. Seeing signs for riding the
Snake are not the same as riding the Snake! That one I didn’t miss, but the
more you ride, the more you see, and the more plans you make for your next trip
back, even though many times you know you will never return. Almost pacifying
yourself over your poor choice, you promise not to make the same mistake again.
So a few years back, we decided to take the roads we used to pass by, to see
where they go. And have developed a flexibility that has taken us places we
didn’t know about, would have passed, and changed the rest of the trip. One
long trip down a side road when you were planning on making time will reroute
your whole trip, for some that is a bummer, for us we go with it, knowing God
has provided us with special trip planning we would have otherwise missed. And
one key to our better rides is conversing more, pointing to things, and not
being afraid to go back and try that road. We communicate, you could call it
riding out loud, and our rides may not be as long, or as far away, but I have
seen things now I didn’t know about, gone to see things I had no interest in
before, and met some nice people I otherwise would have passed by. I, we took
the time to visit when we were there, rather than waiting until we stopped.
“Did you see that back there?” has turned to “I’m glad you pointed that out, I
would have missed it.” All because we took the time to ride out loud with each
other.
Thanks to phones identifying the caller, and Theresa knowing my voice after
37 years, I don’t have to tell her who it is when I call. She knows my voice,
and I know hers. Ask yourself, is your prayer life like that? How many times
do you feel like a stranger to God, going into great details about your problem,
which he knows about anyway, and then hanging up? It’s like asking directions
when lost, then going your own way...proving you are never lost as long as you
have gas, and God. But as much a our prayer time needs more intimacy, to be
more personal and a dialogue and not a monologue, so does our Bible time. Ever
read through a chapter just to stay on your schedule with a study and not get
it? Would it have not made more sense to stop and ask God what he is trying to
show you? And then falling behind, and finally giving up on the study, and
praying less. Falling out of fellowship with God and with church. And the
later seeing the photos of what you had missed, if only you had asked God to
come with you. Now I am not against Bible study, but too many study on a set
course, they know the word better than anyone, but don’t get to know Jesus. He
is words on a page, a missed photo op into what the spirit has to say, and
although you can quote him, you really never heard his words. And too many
without seeing it is him who called will not recognize him. They read alone as
we used to ride alone, when asking God as we read can enlighten us. Stumbling
over that one word you plan on asking about later can lead you to missing the
whole message God had for you that day. He had a word for you, you were looking
for sentences, but really more concerned about finishing the paragraph. So stop
and ask God, before you read. Invite Jesus along on your reading journey, he is
the perfect tour guide. It is the spirit that reveals the mysteries of God,
without him you have many words, with him they mean something. It is his book,
his story, why not bring him along? Get some real insight yourself. It is like
hearing someone who went to Israel. Then hearing about it. Then seeing the
photos. But when you see them in the photos, then it means something, now it is
personal. And so is Jesus...for riding out loud.
On a trip to Mt. Rushmore years ago we were taken in by the beauty and
history. But meeting Mr. Clifford, who actually worked on it, talking with him
and having our picture taken with him made it personal. When I look at the four
faces now, I see a fifth, Mr. Clifford’s, I know him. No longer am I just a
visitor, I know someone who was there, who built it. Is your walk with God like
that? Do you see the face of Jesus when you read? Do you hear his voice or
just read the words? Do you ask directions, stop and listen, or figure you will
catch up next trip? You may be in all the pictures, but where is Jesus? Unless
he is in the picture, maybe you are on a different ride. Maybe you should stop
and ask him along and follow his directions. When you read, whose face do you
see? Whose face do you first look for in your trip pics? The best photos, the
best memories, and the best times are when Jesus is in the picture with you.
Along for the ride, riding out loud with you. Now if it can work on a trip on
two wheels, imagine the ride you can have when reading the Bible with him? All
you need to do is ask, and hang on for the ride of your life. Ask him along,
follow his lead, and see things others only read about. They only read the
book, you know the author.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com