Over the years I have known many people. I have a lot of acquaintances,
and even a few friends thrown in for good measure. Many have been through
church or riding, so if you say you may know me, don’t be surprised if I ask
“what do you ride or where do you go to church?” But one friend from riding,
who was very close to us all in our family has been gone now for over 30 years.
My friend, no adjective needed to express best , loyal, good, or close, he was
just a friend. And from time to time I miss him, and although we only knew each
other a few years, he made a lasting impact on me. His name was Rex, and my
younger son is named after him, born after Rex died two years before he was
born. Rex and I met when he came to Durango to help Rand who had opened up a
Suzuki-Kawasaki shop, and was the service department. Unbelievably talented,
and smart, he had turned down two invitations to attend both West Point and the
Air Force Academy, he was against the Viet Nam war, he had graduated at the top
of his high school class. But pursued his love for motorcycles his entire
life. His ride when riding a shop bike, was an old 1967 Triumph Bonneville,
which had thrown a rod through the cases on a trip to Yellowstone, and he
patched up and repaired the hole with epoxy, rebuilt the motor and almost 50,000
miles after never needed to be rebuilt. He had done it right, and it didn’t
leak either. In his spare time between bikes and softball he was rewriting the
Suzuki tech manuals, he had found many errors and was doing it for free. For
other mechanics if not for Suzuki owners too. But our rides are what I
remember, ride along with me and see why I miss him, and why I miss my
friend.
On an overnighter to Arches National Park, my new KZ750 wouldn’t start. We
had stopped to water a cactus bush and no start after. Over a hundred miles
from anywhere, Rex noted he had seen my tail light brighter than normal, and not
coming on when I braked. A quick look and adjustment of the rear brake pedal,
it had been too tight and the brake lights stayed on, had killed the battery. A
quick push and we were off...On a trip in my car to Denver, to attend a Suzuki
tech show for dealers, I drove, and he brought along a girl who was a friend.
She had little money, and need a ride, so he invited her. Stopping along the
highway to stretch, she lost her wallet. And couldn’t find it, only noticing it
after a half hour after. So we went back, not sure of where we had stopped, but
Rex remembered a landmark, saw the tire tracks, and got out and found it in the
brush. His attention to detail, and paying attention made it a challenge to us,
a no brainer to him.
One New Year’s I met him in Phoenix, he had lived there for awhile before
moving to Prescott, and we stayed with his friends, who instantly became mine.
He lent me his SP370 to ride around town while he did some fine tuning on a
friend’s drag racing Suzuki XS Hustler, and I checked out an early Barrett
Jackson Auction. But when it was time to go back to Durango, it was snowing
heavily, and we towed the SP back behind his 1972 Torino that needed a u-joint
the whole time I knew him. In the deep snow, we had no problem, without snow
tires he knew just how much air to let out, and we arrived save and on
schedule. Never a worry or a doubt about arriving safely.
It was on a trip to California, after getting in flash floods outside of
Verde Valley, that he called the State Police to look for me, and the motels in
town there, hoping I was OK. And finding the only vacancy, I was greeted by the
clerk to call Rex in Prescott. Who had been concerned for his friend’s safety.
And the next morning gave the Kawasaki a quick checkup, including synching the
carbs, just to make sure all was OK for our ride. He thought it idled funny.
But our ride was great, a dream ride, we rode Highway 1, our plan, and were
blessed with the road being closed 30 miles north of Piedra Blanca, and stayed
the night at the motel there. No one on the roads, only us at the motel, we
raced up and down the closed stretch with no traffic, any speeds we wanted, a
dream ride come true. But that night we talked a serious talk, and agreed that
if anything happened to me, he would take care of Theresa and Andrew, and I
would do the same for him. Staying up late and discussing motorcycles, the trip
was great, the weather fine after my flash flood ride, and we parted ways in
Prescott, where he owned batting cages. He would catch up with me in Durango
the next week, having some matters to attend to. And as it would turn out, it
was my last ride with Rex. I would never see him again. The next Sunday in the
obituaries in the Durango Herald he was listed. I was in shock...he died of an
enlarged heart, and it exploded while coming off a softball field in Prescott.
So fast he never had a chance to put out his arm when he fell. A condition only
a few knew of, and he never had it repaired because it would have made him an
invalid, and he would not have been able to ride any more. And he kept it from
his friends, so they would not worry.
We never know when we will take our last ride, but Rex’s last ride was a
sad one into eternity. To hell. He denied Jesus Christ, and although we shared
many things, he didn’t want to hear the gospel. It made no sense to this
talented genius, and good friend. He died denying the only hope he ever had.
And I miss him, knowing where he is. And the sadness of a loved one going to
hell. His choice, all because religion didn’t make sense. And he couldn’t get
the difference between Jesus and religion. Brains and talent don’t save you,
even having Christian friends isn’t enough. Only Jesus saves...and today the
K-LOVE daily scripture tells us nothing can separate us from the love of God.
His love for us, but our choice can separate us from him. All the things listed
don’t include our choice to deny Jesus, they are all external events happening
to us. And I argued with that, because sinners at death are separated from
Jesus. But the spirit reminded me “every knee shall bow, and very tongue
confess Jesus as Lord, even under the earth.” All will know Jesus at death,
some in agony, but still worshipping, but in hell. Those who believe here
before death will worship in heaven, our choice. So even though we deny Jesus,
he is still eternal. And we will worship him. Right now you can choose where
you do it. Don’t lose hope for your friends, you may be the only gospel they
know. Be kind and loving, and show Jesus daily, if necessary use words. And
remember, we don’t send any one to hell, nor does God. It is our choice, God
sent his only son so we can escape hell.
We don’t know what day we will die, we didn’t know our day of birth
either. Only God knows, and he isn’t telling. Seek him today, let Jesus save
your life and soul. A friend like no other you will ever have. Reading Rex’s
obit still haunts me from time to time, but it was his choice, and God honored
it. He will honor your choice today, make it the right one, for we never know
when our last ride will be our last. Or our friends.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
matthew25biker.blogspot.com