From time to time I find myself in situations I rather not be. Some are
self inflicted wounds, some are “I should have known better,” some are thrust
upon me, and yet others just seem to happen. But I find that when I stand up to
the situation, that many get upset with me rather than the bad time they are
having. Like its my fault because I said something. We are told to pray for
the best, but prepare for the worst, yet many end up settling for mediocre, and
think that is the best. For instance, I don’t do group rides, or crowd rides as
they really are. I just don’t see the fun in riding 55 mph on the freeway with
old VW buses passing me giving me dirty looks. I rather ride, and just tell me
where to meet you, and if I want I will, which is why I ride alone. One ride in
particular stands out, as we went 45 mph over 80 mph roads because one girl was
afraid to go any faster, and because I said something, I was the bad guy.
WRONG-she was rude, and should have shown some courtesy to the rest of us. I
didn’t buy a motorcycle to go slow, but to enjoy the road. I quit going to
baseball games some years ago when they became part of the entertainment
business. At the last Padre game I attended they kept interrupting the
entertainment between the innings with a baseball game. And some were more
concerned about missing the Jeopardy answer, or was it the question than missing
the big inning the Padres had.
All summer long I heard people complaining about our hot weather in San
Diego, what did they expect? You like cold, Minnesota is calling. You like
rain, go to New Jersey. If you cannot handle good weather, what makes you think
you could make it anywhere else? Bundle up, it’s only 60 degrees this morning,
with a high of 82 projected. A young guy at the bike shop the other day was
bragging about how his gas mileage was so high, and never considered riding for
fun. After our talk, I hope he twists his throttle a little more, and can brag
about smiles per gallon. If you want to really get good mileage, car pool. As
I explained, what good is fun if you don’t enjoy it? Or can’t? Or won’t? Yet
I’m sure he soldiers on, bragging about his 70 mpg to the guy who wears out the
sides of his tires quick, and only gets 40. Yet things are not always as they
appear, a Rocket 3 I had last year had come back from a magazine with both foot
peg feelers worn off. And the license plate bent from doing wheelies. This guy
didn’t get it, this is a cruiser, or maybe he did and we don’t-it’s a
motorcycle, ride it and have fun. By the way, I found out yesterday a Street
Triple will do 127 in 4th gear. Glad I had 5th and 6th to go. But yet we are
held back by false expectations, inherent fears, and confusion based on false
beliefs. Yet we all fall prey to them, ask a Chargers fan? Did he go to the
game to watch the huddle? Maybe as that is the best part of their game
sometimes, but no-he went to see action. Long passes, runs, and hitting. In
the game, not at the tailgate party. Just a reminder. It’s like one time at a
Steak and Shake, we had a yogurt shake to save calories for the rest of the
trip. We saved a whopping 60 calories by not going with ice cream-not sure what
that is in miles per gallon! Go out to eat steak, don’t order a salad as the
main course. Don’t expect Maine lobster in Phoenix, or fish tacos in St.
Louis. Go with their specialty, and be blessed. And when travelling east, the
first real BBQ is in Albuquerque at Rudy’s. Where you order by the pound, eat
on waxed paper, and use paper towels. No veggies, you eat big the way BBQ was
meant to be eaten, and their motto says it all, “I didn’t fight my way up the
food chain to eat vegetables.” Put that on you granola....
Yet we come to God with false expectations. The preacher preaches “turn to
Jesus and all your problems will go away...” Cheer up things could be worse,
and they usually are. Sorry scripture doesn’t promise that, yet many buy into
it, and when times get tough, figure God isn’t tough enough, or he lied. They
give up, go back to their misery, and miss out. Early in my Christian walk I
was taught 2 Corinthians 4, and how true it is.
“we are hard pressed on every side yet not crushed.” Sounds like life 101
to me. “perplexed yet not in despair,” confused, you won’t be after trusting
God with his answer. “persecuted, yet not defeated, struck down yet not
destroyed.” God never left us, he is with us in the fight. He carries us when
we can’t walk, and goes ahead to clear the way. It is up to us to follow.
“Always carrying about the dying of Jesus in our body that the living of Lord
Jesus may also show in us.” It’s like the guy who has problems with his car,
and goes to church, accepts Christ, yet the next day he has a flat tire. “I
didn’t sign up for this,” he complains, when yes, he really did . And we did
and do. I have found if the road wasn’t rough I wouldn’t need a suspension, God
is the shock absorber in life for me. Jesus takes many a beating I should
have. I find power in his spirit, yet if I never twist the throttle I never
know just how much performance is in a life with him. I forget how I was able
to stop just in time, and that maybe that red light kept me from the collision
just ahead. And yes, I have had flat tires, but never failed to get home yet.
God works through pick up trucks and trailers too. On one trip in Colorado I
had 1000 miles to home and only 200 miles of rear tire. On Labor Day, when real
motorcycle shops were closed on Mondays. Yet God had it all under control, I
met a man whose friend owned a Suzuki store, he hoped a Suzuki tire would fit a
BMW. And after calling his friend, he came down, sold me a tire, loaned me
tools, and I got home. I didn’t sign up for needing a tire, but God knew I
would, and prepared the way. Hard pressed, yet not crushed, just like he says.
We don’t need to understand everything about God, it takes faith, which turns to
obedience,which turns to trust. Two years ago we started out on the Tiger, I
was life flighted, and ended up riding home in the back seat of a rented Camry.
Dying, yet carrying the life of Jesus in me, he got me home, and someday will
take me home to heaven. Life is exciting and meant to be lived. You don’t buy
a Ninja for the mileage, you don’t buy a Harley for the handling. You buy them
to ride, and when the road calls, they answer. It is up to you what road to
take, and how to ride it.
Today read 2 Corinthians 4 and look back on how God has taken you through
the tough times, and thank him. Look to Jesus, and allow him to give you life.
To prepare meals worth eating, and a life worth living. I may not have fought
my way up the food chain to eat veggies, but I love cream of broccoli soup. I
love corn on the cob. I like mashed potatoes and gravy with dressing.
Sometimes we even have breakfast for dinner. But with every meal, as with every
ride, we ask Jesus along. We never ride alone even in a crowd of one. You
didn’t go to the football game to watch the huddle, so break the huddle and get
out and live. Take what you were taught in church and live it outside the four
walls. Enjoy the curves, take in the hot weather, and know God is in control.
No matter where you go, or what you ride, Jesus will always be the way. Maybe a
ride to Rudy’s is in order, it’s only 850 miles, if I leave now I can be there
for dinner. Wonder if they do take out?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com