Talking with Jeff, the owner of the Black Lightning Motorcycle Café, a must
stop if you ever feel the desire for lousy weather and end up in Eureka, he
mentioned he had 6 motorcycles, but only one ran. The others were works in
process. Long ago a friend after seeing my FJ1100 told me he had one too, only
a year newer. I was excited as I knew no one else who had one, but his bike
turned out to be a salvage job, rattle can painted, and almost embarrassing to
be seen with. A work in process, I was reminded why we have salvage titles, and
insurance companies total bikes. Yet on another ride through Boulder Canyon
when we first were married, we came upon a young guy on an old BSA. Not sure
where he was from, or where he was going, that day it was nowhere. His bike
wouldn’t run, but as he told me, “if I can borrow your tools, I can fix it.” I
was on a new R100S BMW at the time, and BMW’s were known for their fantastic
tool kits. I was about to agree, when seeing a pair of vice grips welded onto
the shifter made me change my mind. Plus I rather spend time with Theresa who
was with me, than with this work in process on the side of the road. See the
USA on your BSA, but before setting out, make sure it is running. I mumbled
something, but my excuse was “ not even BMW makes tools that can fix that.” He
smiled and agreed.
It was called Summer Jam, a summer festival in Watkins Glen, New York, the
summer of 1973. The Dead, The Band, and The Allman Brothers, in a
mini-Woodstock setting. BH and I rode for hours after work, and got close,
about 100 miles was the closest we would get that night, due to traffic. But at
one Y intersection, sat a BMW with the rear tire off. It was flat, and he had
no flat repair kit. I did, I was on an R60/5 at the time, so we stopped to
help. Cars whizzed by at 10mph as we sat in the dirt changing it, I got it done
in a few minutes, not my first flat rodeo, and he laid it by his bike taking a
break before putting it back on. And then a car came by, too close, almost
hitting us, but running over the wheel, bending it into a V shape...he waved us
on, he knew his ride was over. Another work in process. So it seems, no matter
the intention, so many of those who ride, ride a motorcycle that is a work in
process. Me, I rather ride than wrench. And God gave me poor wrenching skills
to enforce it. A fact I am grateful for many miles over.
But before you set out to see the USA on your BSA, or Honda, Triumph,
Harley, or Kawasuzimaha, it is always a good idea to have your bike running
properly, in good tune, and god tread on your tires. As I watched my neighbor,
a multi-bike rider leave yesterday on one of his bikes with cord showing on his
rear tire, his other ride in pieces, I make note how I have left on long trips
with some tread remaining, but replace the tires anyway. Cheaper and safer,
along with peace of mind. But sometimes a spur of the moment ride happens and
you can’t. And you hope you will be OK, and make it back on the tread left. If
only by the grace of God, and it has happened. We took off on a Labor Day
weekend, again on the R100S, riding through Colorado. Back when cycle shops
were closed on Sundays and Mondays, Saturday found my tire needing more tread,
Sunday was getting dangerous, and we were still 700 miles from home. Monday was
a holiday, with no chance any bike store being opened, but we came upon a
Western Auto in Bromfield, where he didn’t have a tire, but his friend had a
Suzuki shop. Would a Suzuki tire fit on a BMW? And he called his friend, who
came down, opened up, sold me a tire, and using my toolkit, I had it on in
minutes, and we were on the road safely again. Some might call it luck, we knew
it was God. We trusted, even with little faith, but our God is mightier than
that. He provided, and still provides.
Many times Jesus greeted his disciples by telling them to “be of good
cheer,” and in the Garden, who told them “do not let your hearts be troubled,
trust in God and also trust in me.” It had to be scary for them, seeing the
soldiers coming for Jesus, and maybe for them too, but they found comfort and
peace by trusting him. Sometimes our thoughts of what can happen will scare us,
make us make bad decisions, and worry us to death. Maybe they had considered
dying with him, a scary thought, but even scarier was living on without him.
They could not bear to live or die without him. Such trust is often forgotten
when looking at these men, but they gave up everything to follow him, and from
faith, to obedience, to trust, they learned they couldn’t live without him, and
couldn’t face death without him either. They were works in process, but in that
process had built a relationship of trust, of dependence, and of love with
Jesus. But still the words Jesus spoke reminded them, as he does us, to trust
in him. When the tires are flat, the bike won’t start, or we start off on a
ride when we shouldn’t, he goes with us. But three little words he spoke should
encourage us, and guide us in our decisions. “Do not let...” it is our decision
to follow him, also our choice to worry and not trust. A matter of the
heart.
And having had open heart surgery, I know about “let not my heart being
troubled,” as I trust more than ever before. You don’t have to go through what
I did to trust, you can start now with easy things. Trials and tests will come,
but Jesus has overcome, and so have we. If we trust. My tire was worn out that
day, but God had prepared a new one. Read Isaiah 65:24, God is answering before
we ask. Do you trust him that much? Do you trust Jesus? Funny how we trust
him for salvation, but begin to worry when things don’t go our way. But to some
that find the gospel a secret, God reveals himself through Jesus, all the
resources and power of a living God are available through Christ Jesus. Not a
secret, because now you know. To some a new revelation, to those who are saved
a reminder.
Jesus Christ is the cure for troubled hearts. Also troubled rides,
troubles along the ride, and in every situation. He is the toolkit of life, and
I never go riding without him. Only God knows what is ahead, and we cannot ride
without him. And will not. Such is trust, we like him along. And for the
blessings also of his presence. Face it life is scary, and on a bike they are
all out to get you. We must carry insurance, I choose to carry Jesus with me
also. I prefer to be of good cheer rather than worry. So “do not let your
heart be troubled,” you can choose Jesus too. Three little words from Jesus
that can change your life, and you ride.
Ride your own ride, but never ride alone. Trust me, I know. Because I
know Jesus.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com