I was impressed when an old friend told me he had just gone over 100,000
miles on his motorcycle. I didn’t realize he rode so much, or his bike was so
old. But when I asked about all the places he has ridden, his expression
changed. “I only used it to commute, it has never been out of So Cal.” And as
he explained his 90+ mile commute each day, the math in my head told me the
mileage was true, and that he hadn’t gone anywhere. He had gone on an endless
supply of rides that he didn’t remember, he may as well have been commuting in a
Prius for all the joy of the road he had. It would have gained him access to
the HOV lane, and gotten the same mileage. Maintenance may have even been
cheaper, as the HD in his bikes brand was now soon needing a top end, soon to be
followed by a bottom end rebuild. All those miles, all those cold mornings, and
yet he had gone nowhere. I compare that to another friend, whose latest Gold
Wing is just under 200,000 miles, and will pass that mark this summer, the third
Wing he has done it on. We don’t see him much, and when we do he tells of all
the rides and roads he has been on in the past year. He has taken rides with
his wife, met people and made new friends, and when mentioning a state, he has
been there. He has seen the US of A from behind bars, and the memories are
exciting to listen to. My other friend has memories of mile posts on I-15,
reminding him how much farther he has to work. Both ride a lot, but not all
have the same memories to look back on. You can only go where the road takes
you, and it is OK to change the road you are on.
I currently have almost 300,000 miles on the bikes in my garage. Even my
low mileage bike, the 1978 Suzuki with 30,000 has been places, I bought it in
Seattle and rode it home in two days-only 1400 miles of I-5, but still a ride I
remember. My Bonneville is over 71,000, yet most of its miles are local, with a
ride to Phoenix with Dick standing out. But it is the Tiger, with over 92,000
miles that has the miles I remember most. Until I got sick and had open heart
surgery, this was our touring bike, and saw limited duty, 4-6 weeks a year, but
was ridden almost 14,000 miles each year. Never a commuter, it did commute us
to 48 states, and Canada, and most rides can be remembered for one thing or
another. It seems each bike and its owner has a different story to tell, of
places gone, places missed, people met and people missed, and dreams come true,
and dreams yet only found on a wish list. How many times have we been asked
“how did you get your motorcycle here?” when in Maine, Michigan, Florida, or
Texas. It amazes people we actually ride, yet the mileage doesn’t impress as
much as the places we have been. We have found the road many times to be the
destination, the ride the antidote for mediocrity, and the world a beautiful
place once we escape our own back yard. It is not the same everywhere, as some
have told us, even each freeway is different, as is each bridge. Only
restaurant chains remind us of home, which we avoid, we are trying to get away.
Not travel the same route, eating the same food. And life doesn’t have to be
the same either, whether you ride or not. High miles doesn’t mean a full log
book of memories, it can just mean a worn out life or motorcycle. It can be as
exciting as a Tex-Mex burrito in Amarillo, or the same old slop in Taco Bell.
Both are food, and will fill you up, but one is worth the ride. But only if you
will take it.
A man once explained to a crowd of young people that a rut is only a grave,
but with both ends open as a way of escape. And while some are caught in the
ruts of life, some see the light at both ends, and wonder where it leads. God
is like that, he offers us a way out, but some only see the same rut, they don’t
see his light offering an escape, and the life that goes with it. I see men and
women studying the Bible for years, but never applying what they learned, or
what it says. Their daily walk is like a commute, arriving the same place each
morning, taking the same route, and when they are told Jesus offers life and
more abundantly, they can only see a road with less traffic, not a new way to
get there. The seven dying words of the church just may be “we’ve never done it
this way before.” And I am reminded of a story of one Peter, sitting in jail
for preaching the gospel.
The other disciples were upset about their friend being in jail, and were
at a home praying fervently, when a knock came on the door. They tried to
ignore it, they thought it was rude someone interrupting their prayer time, and
finally answered it. It was Peter, God had miraculously set him free, he had
answered the prayers of those praying, yet they were too lazy, or had too little
faith to answer the door and see their prayers answered. Although they had seen
the miracles with Jesus for 3 1/2 years, they still had little faith. Sound
familiar? Sound like maybe a road you are stuck on? Have you accumulated the
miles, but not the testimonies? Or have they stopped, because life interfered
with your plans? Or have you just quit riding altogether for whatever reason.
Just like some get old because they quit riding, some quit riding because they
get old. Old in their relationship with God, and travel the same old road,
putting on miles, but without testimonies.
But life like that rut provides an escape route. A person who will guide
you, and you don’t have to be on the USS Enterprise to go boldly where no man
has gone before. When you let Jesus be the Captain Kirk of your Enterprise, the
whole universe is yours, and the possibilities are endless. While some collect
only miles, you can collect precious memories, and be an encouragement to
others. Life is not necessarily how far you go, but how far you have
come.
God knows exactly where you are right now. Behind bars, or behind
handlebars, he will change your life if you let him. Paul wrote much of the New
Testament in chains, telling of a freedom while chained to a guard. His
surrounding didn’t hinder him, but Jesus encouraged him in his situation. He
wrote not only of the tough times, but emphasized his Lord that took him through
them. How many were saved because of one man’s testimony behind bars? How many
are in a prison of their own with no bars but their lack of faith? Their lack
of Jesus? A lady once came in while I was working at Mercedes Benz in La
Jolla. She was planning a big trip up north she told us, and wanted her car
checked out. While talking we thought maybe San Francisco, or Monterrey, but we
were surprised by her answer. “Del Mar,” some 15 miles north. We checked the
car out the same way as if she was heading cross country, she went 15 miles.
Life is like that, don’t fall into the trap. When God promises life abundant,
he means overflowing. In ways you cannot imagine. Some will take us on
freeways, some on back roads, some not even paved. Some just a driveway that
tests our riding abilities like Guy’s, but on all rides go with God. Too much
of life is routine, just getting from here to there. Enjoy the road you are on,
explore new roads, and see a side of God the disciples almost missed. Maybe the
ride you are praying about is behind the door, the knocking is Jesus asking to
be let in and show you. Expect more out of your God and let him lead the way.
Or you can always drive a Prius-it will at least get you on the commuter lane.
At least they get out of So Cal sometimes. It’s the rides you don’t remember
that could have been the rides you do.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthw25biker.blogspot.com