My friend Nathan, aka “50 State Nate,” just returned from a 111 day, 50
state, 21,000 mile motorcycle ride. Living my dream, he was given a new 2015
Indian Roadmaster to ride, his goal to hookup with state representatives at each
state capital to get 2 questions concerning motorcycle safety on each state’s
driver’s test. For cars. Sponsored by Allstate, he has many stories to tell,
experiences to share, and time to reflect back, and also look ahead for the 2.0
version. But the one thing overlooked was he did it without any accidents, and
I for one am glad he made it home safe. Like a second son, I hope he gets to
ride more and more, although now a simple ride to the beach, or for lunch may
have a different attraction, or no attraction at all to him. He has seen the US
of A, plus provinces in Canada from behind handlebars, and the audience he can
relate too just got smaller. Having ridden in 48 states I can relate, and
having had a 37 day, 31 state, and 11,000 mile ride with Theresa I can associate
with him, but for many his ride will seem like fantasy. The uncool will
complain of a sore butt, road apples of bad weather, the jealous of but he got
paid and a new bike to do it on, while most will in no way associate with him.
They ride from Harley dealer to Harley dealer, poker runs the biggest trial, and
pack for an overnight like most of us do when we move. They will never enjoy
fresh lobster in Maine, real Texas BBQ, fresh pasties in the Yupper, and many of
the local drive ins that are spotted along the back roads. To them it is all
like So Cal, one big homogenized freeway exit, a Wal Mart at every corner,
Mexican slop for lunch and dinner, and they will never know the freedom they
talk of. Of the highway, of riding beyond their own preset boundaries, of
seeing what is over the next hill, around the next curve, or what exists beyond
the rainbow. If the weather isn’t great, they stay home and shine their rides,
or hang at the dealer. Nothing the matter with that, it’s just I bought my bike
to ride, and so ride it I do. And Nathan is my hero...and someday I will ride
beyond time zones again.
A BMW ad in my garage boasts “Go somewhere for a change. You two are
definitely not local yocals. You like a ride that lasts longer than just a
piddly afternoon around the subdivision. You like exploring this big, bad slab
of a continent, instead of putt-putting around the subdivision, revving your
pipes going nowhere.” If that doesn’t describe you, maybe you have never
ridden? You may have never experienced true freedom on a motorcycle. You may
live a life of despair, or no dreams, of a nagging wife, or of associates who
tell you “it’s the same everywhere.” The same words I was told 40 years ago
when I told my friends I was leaving Jersey and moving to New Mexico. On a
motorcycle. In November. At age 20. “You’ll be back,” they all claimed. And
I have been, but for only a short visit. I could very easily have written that
ad, but instead I chose to live it. It didn’t take Toto to remind Dorothy
“we’re not in Kansas any more,” and it doesn’t take much to remind me I’m not in
Jersey any more.
To be honest, it was the weather that drew me to So Cal, and the weather
that makes me stay. On each ride across country, 12 now, we look for the
perfect small town that doesn’t have winter. San Diego is it, so I’ll stay.
But still long for a ride over the Continental Divide, a ride over the Astoria
Bridge, and putting my toes in the Gulf of Mexico. Knowing it will be hot, may
rain, be cold and maybe even freezing, but you can dress for all those things.
You just need to leave home to do it. To leave the so called safety of your
local ride, to go where you have never gone before. To dare to find out what it
is like to escape being a local yocal, and expand local to both coasts. To 50
states. To all kinds of weather. You may be revving your pipes and not knowing
it, your neighbors wondering “oh it’s him again, doesn’t he go anywhere else?”
You may be riding in your sleep and not even know you are asleep. $20,000 and
20 miles don’t make you a biker.
Many ride never knowing what there bike will do. Or what they can do.
Works with Christ too. Many get lulled to sleep by living a life of leisure.
Of being satisfied with life as it is. Doing all the right things, feeling
secure in their accomplishments, but always being insecure with God. Their
entire ministry experience may be giving to missions, and maybe visiting with a
missionary when they come home to visit. Asking questions, but never knowing
what they are talking about. Not relating. For some church is Sunday morning
TV, and when the lesson doesn’t please them, changing the channel. Some will
make commitments during a pledge week, then forget about it later. My favorite,
the man who stands up and donates $1000, anonymously. “See what a man of God I
am?” If you know someone like that, or if that is you, you need to quit putt
putting with Jesus. Your religion may only be a Sunday morning outing, you may
have become a local yocal in church. Your alarm may go off just in time every
morning, your routine so routine you can do it in your sleep, and many times
do. Without knowing it. You may have even dreamt of better things, but life
interfered. You once wanted to live for Christ, now all you want is for him to
live for you. And with each passing moment sink deeper into a religious coma.
From which many succomb.
But then there are those who seek Jesus, and all he has to offer. They are
not satisfied with being blessed, they want to bless others. They don’t give
offerings, they give themselves. They get out and see Christ in action, seeing
the blessings others only hear about. They offer testimonies, while others
offer excuses. Both may be saved, but only one is truly alive in the spirit.
They find that it isn’t the same everywhere, because religion has separated
believers. They operate in unity with God, instead of trying to get God to
unite with them. They read the scriptures, maybe even memorize some, but it
never gets personal. And when their kids ask about Jesus, they point them to
the church, instead of having a testimony to share with them. They need to go
somewhere for a change, not realizing that somewhere is really a someone, Jesus
Christ. They have been denying the spirit, even ignoring him for years, denying
the life god offers. But when they finally give in to Jesus....it all changes.
My first overnighter was only 60 miles away at age 17. BH and me on our
Honda 350’s. But it opened up a door I didn’t know I was stuck behind. The
road called, I answered yes, and never looked back. Except to remember. Same
with Jesus, when the spirit called, I finally answered, and never looked back.
I want all I can from him, and for you too, but you need to operate in the
spirit. God’s spirit, not your own. Not someone else’s. Not even the
church’s. When Jeremiah wrote about God having a plan for you, it was so you
would find it out. To seek it with your heart, and know it in your spirit when
you arrived. It may change from day to day, flexibility with Christ is a good
thing, for he knows. The weather, the traffic, and the road. For some 200
miles may be a long ride, 2000 for me a warm up. The roads go on even if you
don’t. So does God. And the best ride of your life may be the next ride, or
the next corner. Still some complain it is the same everywhere. You can only
imagine their vision of heaven...the same. Maybe that is why I am so excited,
for heaven is where Jesus is, and where I want to be. And when he says “on
earth as it is in heaven,” I want him now. I have great expectations of heaven,
and I want Jesus now and then. No matter where the road takes me. Ask God what
he wants for your life, ask for a vision. Remember we are told the people die
without one. If you are dead, you can be born again and have life in Christ.
You can ride beyond the neighbor hood gates, beyond the church parking lot. You
can get to know Jesus personally, not just as a character in a book. Some have
become CEO’s of their own life, Christmas and Easter Only, give up the title and
start to live.
Nathan’s ride had a purpose. What is your purpose in life? Just waiting
to retire? Or to retire because your tires are worn out from riding? Live life
to the fullest, only found in Jesus. Never wonder where that road goes, wander
and find out. Same with him. Quit wondering, and start getting to know him.
The spirit is calling, your flesh is crawling. Maybe it should be riding. If
you don’t know where you are going, you may not recognize it when you get
there. So have Jesus along for the ride. Some think West Virginia is heaven,
or Texas. Oklahoma. The beaches of Malibu. Only when that river of life
flowing out of you is Jesus will you know. Where the spirit of the Lord is
there is liberty. Go somewhere for a change, go with Jesus. My trip has lasted
for over 40 years....sorry I cannot hear you over you revving your pipes. Ride
and live with Jesus. Loud pipes save lives, he saves souls. And gives life.
Just the other side of your subdivision. But you will never know until you
try....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com