I am often asked by those who don’t ride, what was/is your favorite ride?”
Depending on my audience, I can let my mind wander through the miles ridden, the
meals eaten, and the people met. Roads come to mind, as do states, was Theresa
with me, and what bike I was riding. But when I ask myself the same question, I
find I break it down into two categories, was and is. Was, is tougher, there
have been so many, and I find each ride, no matter how bad or how good has some
merit to me. Is, takes me to the roads I travel on a regular basis, which
limits me to anything south of Tulare, or about a 280 mile radius. But I have
found myself echoing the same answer, “my last ride and my next ride.” I have
learned to enjoy the ride I am on, whether it is stuck in traffic lane
splitting, or wearing off foot pegs in the hills. I love to ride, and given all
the opportunities, I try to enjoy every ride as if it may be my last. The one
that when I hang my helmet up for good, when my wrist will no longer twist any
more, the one that I will have to remember for a long time. We don’t often have
a choice of when we will stop riding, so I have learned to enjoy each outing as
if it may be my last. To some that may seem fatalistic, but to me it is
realistic.
In June of 2012, before I got sick and had open heart surgery, I had ridden
1000 miles in two days in 100 degree heat. It could have been, and should have
been if not for the miracle God performed in my life. For the first time on any
ride, I was separated from my motorcycle, and waking up after surgery never knew
if I would or could ever ride again. But I was alive, and my memory fresh, well
sort of, and at one time had convinced myself if I never ride again, I will deal
with it. But fortunately God had a better plan, and after only 7 weeks after
surgery, making medical history, I rode for 25 minutes on my Bonneville.
Perhaps the hardest ride, yet the most satisfying ride I ever took, I was so
weak I was afraid I would fall over, and so fragile it may have killed me if I
did. But I was riding again, a new first, and hopefully an old last that I will
always remember. And I learned a very important lesson, we can plan for our
first, but we never know when we will take our last. So today I treat each ride
as if it was my last, because I have seen scripture come alive in my life, and
we are never promised tomorrow. But we are promised something
better....eternity.
If I live to a ripe old age of 81, I only have another 20 years, leaving me
with less miles to look forward to than to look back on. Picking up Sportrider
magazine yesterday, I saw an article about my friend Ray Adams. Mickey had
built him a turbo charged B King, dynos at 264 horsepower, and Ray loves it. It
is his everyday bike, not bad for a man who just turned 71. He loves to ride,
and has passed down the passion through his son Curtis, known as the “fastest
man at Willow,” and to his grandson Bradley, who wrote the article. We are
friends who at one time agreed we are not getting old, just older. My
inspiration for not growing up, just going faster. But I know that he is even
closer to that last ride than I am, if we both die of old age. So I find that
how I live not only may not increase my days, but it adds value to them.
But if I had died in June 2012, it may have also been Theresa’s last ride
too. We are riding partners, and she will not ride with anyone else. My ego
tells her it would be a let down. But when we ride together it is something we
have always done, since our first night we met. It is part of who we are, and
whether on her Bonneville, or buddy seat sitting, someday she will be faced with
her last ride. But she is also blessed that she gave her life to Christ, as I
have. We have no fear of tomorrow, for wherever we spend it, Jesus is with us.
Alone or together, no matter how we ride, we are never alone. Really never
apart is a better description, for Jesus never leaves us, so we are never
apart. And each ride brings us closer to heaven than the one from yesterday.
We have learned of value of having Jesus in our lives, and he brings a richness
to the ride I didn’t know I didn’t have before I was saved. And so I am so
thankful for the passion God has given us for riding and for the road.
I have lost count of how many different bikes I have ridden this year, I
demoed a 2016 Indian Scout on Saturday. Nice bike for a cruiser, but no
suspension. Which can be fixed. My recent bike is a Triumph Explorer which I
swap out today. I will probably ride back on my Street Triple, unless Mick has
something else he needs miles on. And my old Tiger 955 has the bags loaded with
food for Dustin Arms, where I will teach tonight, and deliver needed food for
the hungry. Each bike different, each riding style different, but all fun. And
maybe that is why I ride. I like the freedom, love the road. No place I’d
rather be on earth than on the road splitting time zones. But riding is fun,
and why have fun if you don’t enjoy it? Same with God. why serve a god who
cannot deliver? Who cannot promise eternal life? Who tries to run your life and
control you through religious doctrines? Why serve anyone but Jesus Christ,
where you can have full freedom in the spirit, where you can make the choices,
who delivered on all his promises including resurrection? Why live for today
when you can live for eternity? So why do you not enjoy every ride like it
could be your last?
Eternity awaits all, and all will die. If reading this you still have a
choice on where you will spend it. Heaven with Jesus, or hell without him.
Still in denial, think about “if I die before I ride,” where will I end up? We
will all take one final ride, and it will be in a hearse. Rich or poor, rider
or not, saved or lost, a hearse will be your last ride. A choice no one will
have to make for you. So today, consider Jesus Christ. Ask him to come into
your life. Trust him. Start reading your Bible, get involved in a church.
Meet others and share how he changed your life. Choices you can still make.
And rest assured that when that last ride comes, you know your destination. We
are not promised tomorrow, I never planned to have open heart surgery. I once
doubted if I would ever ride again. But I never doubted heaven, because I know
in whom I believe. So enjoy the ride you are on, cherish the old ones, look
forward to new ones. Knowing that a loving God has everything under control.
We will all take a last ride, enjoy yours today because it just might be. In
Christ.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com