From the first TV commercials, to the first billboards announcing them, the
Ford Mustang has made a huge impact on the automobile world. Joey’s mom had the
first one in our neighborhood, a 1964 1/2, gray with red interior, 260 V-8, and
auto. We would stand by it just hoping for a ride. Soon Mr. Tucker had a light
blue with a six, Bruce and Barry’s dad had a silver with a black vinyl roof, six
with auto, but the coolest was Mrs. Farley’s 1966, Emberglow, tan vinyl roof,
Pony interior, and spinners on the hubcaps! Mustangs were everywhere, except at
my house, but divine providence intervened twice that year, once at the New York
World’s Fair, getting to sit in a white convertible riding through the Rotunda,
at their Magic Skyway, narrowly missing getting a Comet instead, and my best
friend in 4th grade Billy Dotterer’s dad managed the Metuchen plant where
Mustangs were built, arranging a field trip for us. Even the nerdiest girl who
was bored by the assembly line was a Mustang fan when they saw the finished
product roll off the assembly line.
In junior high, Mr. Ubersax my basketball coach had a yellow 1966, with a
289, so did Mr. Corea. The next year he traded it for a dark blue coupe, with a
390, 4 speed, and headers. The worst teacher I ever had, what waste of car, and
parked next to Mr. Dyer’s, same color, but with a six and auto. One car that
appealed to everyone. Amazing. I remember driving Vinny’s 1969 Boss 302 as a
senior, the hood scoop vibrating through the hole in the hood. Orange...fast.
And with a thirst for 40 cent a gallon Sunoco 260. Mr. Brannon’s 1970 Mach One,
with a 428. We either had one, or knew somebody who did, and we all wanted
one. And it started the Pony Car revolution, as Chevy responded with the
Camaro, Craig’s older brother having a yellow 67 SS convertible. Pontiac
Firebirds were hot, none as hot as my old girlfriend Cathy’s 400 convertible
with a 4 speed. Plymouth had the Barracuda which never sold well, yet today
brings high 6 figures at auction, Dodge had the Challenger, and even American
Motors had the AMX, a two seater. A version of the Javelin, my friend Barry had
a new 1972 with a 401 our senior year. Parked by Vinny’s boss, and Lucio’s 1972
Trans Am, the first car I went 120 mph in, cutting school one day to go to the
shore, our parking lot at our high school would thrill any cruise night today.
Pony cars were everywhere, and all because of the Mustang. Mary Richards aka
Mary Tyler Moore drove one, what else can I say? And today 50 years later, they
still turn heads, and make a young man, or woman gotta have one.
We have had two, a 1986 GT convertible, with custom exhaust and some engine
work-it was fast, and a 2001 convertible is in the garage now. Candy apple red,
a six, but with an everlasting effect. Leaving church on Easter, we dropped the
top, and all eyes were on it. Try that Prius, Ms. SUV, or family sedan.
Mustangs tell a lot about their owners, and from the 350H, where for $17/day and
17 cents a mile you could rent a racer from Hertz, to Carroll Shelby’s
influence, to all the sixes out there and in my garage, like the old ads told us
“only Mustang makes it happen.”
Since becoming a Christian, I can truly say “only Jesus makes it happen.”
Jesus had the appeal to everybody long before the Mustang did. Although he was
god, he came to earth in the form of a man, to serve. He would discuss matters
of deeply religious matters with Pharisees, or sit and teach the loneliest
hooker. He fed the 5000, twice, yet carried no food himself. He had all the
riches of heaven at his command, and power too, yet lived humbly. He never
owned property, and even died naked, his robe being auctioned off by throw of
the dice. He left no will, never forcing his will on anyone, yet leaving an
indelible memory with all who met him. He would be fine in a six cylinder
Mustang today, and excite punching the throttle on a V-8. He had all the
options at his command, yet offered himself up forgoing them, choosing to die so
we may live. He was every option available, and leaves it up to us today how
much of him we have in our lives. And wants us to be the same for others. To
others.
We find Jesus in the temple, on the road, in a boat, walking on the sea,
fishing, teaching, walking, healing, tried, convicted of no crime, and then
crucified. He saw it all, and from anarchists to tax collectors to Pharisees to
fisherman, he became all things to all people, so they could know him
personally. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to be all things to all people-meet
them where they are, where they live. It is Jesus who sought us, no one I ever
knew woke up one morning and decided to find God. It took the Holy Spirit to
call us, to tell us we needed a savior, and to introduce us to Jesus. Each one
of us a custom job, none two alike. Just like the relationship he offers, with
different levels of luxury and performance. In cars you cannot have it all, in
Jesus you can. And can forever.
Today in the Mustang aftermarket, you can buy all the parts to build a
brand new 1965 Mustang, and title it as a 2015. They may look the same, but
only one will be the original. Don’t settle for less than the original Jesus.
Many will make claims, religion will beckon, and cults entice. Only Jesus is
the way....all others come after. There were and are many Pony cars out there,
but it all started with the Mustang. Some lead, some follow, some try to
duplicate. So it with cars, so it is with God. Jesus is the real thing, the
original, and still changing lives today. This year we celebrate 50 years of
the Mustang, I celebrate 40 years with Jesus. And he has been changing lives
for 2000 years, where will your new 2015 be in 2000 years? My God never
changes, never goes out of style, and has never been duplicated. Imitated and
copied, but there is and always only be one Jesus. In 1964 Ford brought us the
unexpected, the Mustang. God is still providing us with his unexpected, yet
expected son today. Let him surprise you with all he has to offer. One ride
and I’m sure you’ll agree, “only Jesus makes it happen.” Let him happen to you
today. And like the theme from Mary Tyler Moore tells us “you’re gonna make it
after all...”
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
