A few weeks ago we took a friend of ours to the water park with us. Being
only 7, he had to sit in the back seat in a booster chair. In a few years he
will be old enough and tall enough to sit in the front set, to ride shotgun as
we used to say, and enjoy a whole new view of driving. I had never really
thought about it, but his whole view of the world comes from the back
seat....much different than when we were growing up. How many of you knew
someone, or were that someone who could sleep who would sleep up in the package
tray of your parent’s car on a trip to Grandma’s? How many knew rich kids whose
back seat was so big you could stand on the floor and play? Or stand on the
seat and look out? In my Grandpa’s 1959 Buick Electra, silver with red leather
interior, my sister used to always win the battle to sit on the rear armrest, I
was told I was too big. Which only made me want it more, but only when she was
along. Other times I always rode up front next to him, sharing our armrest.
And how many times did you pile 6 or 7 of your friends into the car and go
somewhere. We once had seven in my Pinto going to the shore...in the rain,
without a second thought for safety. And yes, just a generation ago on CHiP’s
Bonnie, Bear, Jed, and others rode around all day without using their seat
belts. And somehow we all made it to today, despite the safety hazard presented
to us by ignoring it.
We used to ride in the back of pickups, too. When Bern crashed his Honda
350, we stored it in my Aunt’s garage, going to pick it up with 4 in the back
sharing space with it for over 60 miles. Now you don’t even see dogs in the
back. And roll bars are called light bars....yeah right? As kids we played in
the dirt, played kick ball in the streets, and sat on curbs at night looking for
flying saucers and telling ghost stories. My Grandma and I used to go out after
dark, walking the streets of Bangor with a flashlight looking for monsters. How
many young boys huddled under a streetlight, looking at some dirty girly
magazine we found in the gutter? A couple of times we even tried chewing tar,
as it bubbled up on a hot Jersey afternoon. We were kids, life was simple, we
all thought we would live forever, and we had fun. A key composite that is
missing from life today, no matter the age or generation. Today we are faced
with many laws, rules, regulations, and codes that are designed to protect us,
from everything except ourselves. Take gun laws for instance....
I bought my first gun, a .22 revolver at H. Cook’s Sporting Goods in
Albuquerque in 1976. I had walked over barefoot, no wallet or ID, went in and
applied for a credit card, then up and bought the gun and ammo. And walked back
home with it. The same gun I once had on as a side arm and walked into Durango
National Bank with, did my business and walked out. With no one noticing, or
saying a word. We are surrounded by helmet laws, and although I wear one, don’t
think we should be told to. Yet a popular ATTGAT, All The Gear All The Time is
becoming popular. Ever see a BMW rider on a hot day not over dressed? Yes
these things will protect, as I learned riding my R100S to San Diego and back
from New Mexico, helmetless, losing my hearing for a week, but it seems the more
laws there are, the more laws there are to break. And more of us to become
criminals. I wear my seat belts and have for years because they do save lives.
I know how air bags save lives, how ABS can help in a panic situation, and how
all the safety items, and all the laws will not help you if a drunk driver comes
at you. I have been hit and run by one...on my motorcycle with a helmet on.
But no one wants to address the real problem, the driver. The one who is making
the decision, isn’t it nice to know the government has your back on this
one?
Next time you see a bad driver, it won’t take long, remember someone from
the DMV tested them and passed them. So it is not totally their own fault.
Some idiot passed them. From the same government that gave us helmet laws, seat
belt laws, booster seat laws, gun purchasing laws, and mandatory safety items on
cars. Mostly for one important reason, we don’t have the sense to take care of
it ourselves. We live in a world of Normalcy Bias, a psycho babble term that
means because we haven’t seen it, it won’t happen to us. Until it does, and
some do gooder stands up and reminds us “see, I told you so. We need another
law...” and the government goes on. “Hi I’m from the government and here to
help” becoming more a warning than a joke. And the joke is on us.
But it seems lack of common sense, try explaining that term to a 5 year
old, is common only in that it hasn’t existed since the Garden of Eden. Common
sense coming from God’s mouth was disobeyed by Eve, then Adam followed. Cain
was going to murder his brother as long as he was Abel. Yet Noah flew in the
face of common sense, at least to his neighbors and built the ark. And was
considered crazy until it rained. Joseph’s brothers used poor judgment against
him, until they needed food in a drought, and then he revealed himself to them.
The Israelites thought Moses was crazy as they walked for 40 years in the
desert. Neglecting to be thankful for the light by night, or the clouds by day
to protect them from the sun. Their shoes never wore out, but yet they grumbled
about the fresh manna they ate every day. The food was better in Egypt, and
they argued about going back, even if it meant slavery. And then Moses himself,
given the 10 Commandments, and seeing the back of God, and his face glowing. Who
then wore a mask to cover his shining face, to protect the people, but keeping
it on long after the glow disappeared. He didn’t want to lose the illusion of
being with God. More laws, more laws to break, if only we listen to God we
wouldn’t need them.
But just as there were many laws, over 600, God took them down to 10, all
about relationships. 6 for men and men, but only 4 for God and men. Yet that
was too many, and still is today. So Jesus made it easier, one, love God first
then your neighbor the same. One law, yet we cannot obey it. Fortunately there
is only one way of forgiveness, found in Jesus Christ only. No special
ceremonies for certain sins, no special fines or offerings for that certain sin,
one trip to Jesus and he forgives them all. Past, present like today, and the
future ones to come. And when we are forgiven we forgive others, yet sometimes
have a problem forgiving ourselves. But God sent his Holy Spirit to guide us,
to be that common sense factor, to show us the way. So when we wander off by
ourselves, we are not alone, he is with us. When we don’t know what to pray, he
shows us. When we feel alone we are never alone, because he never leaves us.
All the common sense you will ever need is wrapped up in the spirit, which only
works if you obey. If you trust. And unlike the tester who passed the lousy
driver, it is on us if we neglect to follow his instruction. Yet in God’s love
he forgives, he restores, and forgets. He doesn’t hold sin against us. For we
are under grace, showing love, something the law could never do. For the law
shows our weakness, and when we break them we need grace.
Ever go to court? And even though innocent felt guilty? Because you were
in front of a judge who may be partial. Fortunately we have been judged in
Jesus, who took our sin, and we are found innocent on judgment day. And
welcomed with a compliment, “well done, my good and faithful son.” Me? Only
those in Jesus will ever hear those words. All others are already guilty, just
awaiting the final death sentence, hell.
Before coming to Christ, he makes no sense. But after he makes perfect
sense. Common to all Christians in the spirit. So live in the spirit today, in
Christ, and enjoy the fruit of them. No laws against the fruit of the spirit,
and all are welcome. Freedom from the law, in the spirit. And just to
celebrate, maybe I will take a ride around the block, wind in my hair,
helmetless. Ride around in the back a pickup, with my dog. Hang a gun in my gun
rack. I dare you to dare me to not wear a seat belt. Or ride to the beach with
7 friends inside. And while some will applaud my rebellion, my young friend
will think I am crazy. No seat belts, no helmet, no gun safe? Maybe I’ll let
him sit up front next time, and give him a lesson in grace. Without telling his
mom. Seeing the road from the front seat, instead of hidden in the back. Maybe
then when someone explains freedom he will get it. He will have been there.
Works with God too. Under laws or under grace? Can’t you tell by the smile on
my face? I’ll be the one having fun.
Now about waiting one hour to swim after eating....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com