30 years ago five friends took advantage of my idea to go riding together
on a Memorial Day weekend. We all rode, but at different levels, and I was the
long distance guy then-still am now. But at my suggestion we took off on Friday
night and would return home late Sunday, riding over 1600 miles in between,
riding from Farmington, New Mexico in the Four Corners area, to San Diego, and
eating lunch at Anthony’s. We all had different bikes, different styles of
riding, and different styles of life. But we all made it out, and we all made
it back to NM, with stories to tell. And I had lost contact with some of them,
they got married, had families, followed careers, and I would hear from them
every few years. One had quit riding, another kept his license, but quit,
another had a short career as a service manager for Yamaha, one got divorced and
started his own company, while I kept riding throughout. So it was with great
joy I heard from two of then this week, one wanting to go to Hollister and the
rally, towing his bike so he could bring his family, the other, looking to buy a
bike, and get back into motorcycling. Both reflecting on how it was 30 years
ago, and out of touch with how it is now.
I would love to meet Brett in Hollister and ride, but I don’t ride with
people who trailer their bikes. Especially to Hollister, I go back to when
Theresa first got her license, and Pastor Fred offered to trailer her bike up.
“It’s only 450 miles, I’m riding.” And she did, and has. No trailer queens in
this house-we ride. But Brett goes back to how it was then, motorcycling has
changed, and so have we. George called yesterday, looking to buy a ZX-14
Concours-a big bike, so he can take his reluctant wife riding. He again is in
time warp of some 30 years, this is one big bike, more than he will need,
especially since he will be riding mostly solo. Both are seeing today through
30 year old memories, my relationship with riding goes much deeper. And so does
my family’s, but I hope that somehow it all works out....but that we are able to
make new memories rather than live on past ones. In the past 12 days I have
ridden over 1700 miles by myself...on three different bikes. My relationship to
riding is much different. I hope when asked my answers are weighed and not
quickly dismissed...for they are based on not only years of riding, but current
also. But just for the heck of it, maybe I might just ride the 30 miles to San
Diego for lunch alone, to see how much I have changed. I’ll ride the long way
just to make sure.
Many men my age are coming back to riding after taking a break for families
and careers. Motorcycles have changed a lot, faster, better brakes, better
handling, but not so much a better rider. And the cost of buying in is a lot
more. So looking for a bike like they once had may be impossible to find, and a
whole new attitude must be taken. Even basic bikes like my Bonnevilles handle
better than my Honda Nighthawk did back then. Now we have specialized touring
bikes, adventure bikes, sport bikes, and the list goes on. Try telling a new
rider how and what you once rode 30 years ago and they won’t get it. Our
biggest bike was a 920 Virago, proving the Japanese make ugly cruisers. My 650
was the smallest, George and Brett both rode 700cc Hondas, downsized to avoid
the tariff imposed on 750cc and over, to help save Harley. The last a Seca 750,
a shaft drive 750 when only touring bikes had shafts. Looking back, much has
changed...but so have we. And so have I.
Some left motorcycling and are wanting to return, and we welcome them. But
be advised, and be ready for the changes. Sadly too many I once knew have
fallen away from God. Fill in the blank with your own excuse, family, job, wife
who hates motorcycles, they’re dangerous, or just not Yuppie accepted, they use
the same excuses when trying to explain why they left Jesus. And now are trying
to come back, and we welcome them. But many base their past experiences on
church, and the church has changed. Saturday night services, multiple services
on Sunday, growth groups, small groups, and men and women’s fellowships. And
they are looking for what they once had, which makes me wonder, if it was so
good, why did you leave? And why if the reason you left was church do you want
to come back? Wasn’t our life based on Jesus? And wasn’t there something more
to Jesus than Sunday mornings? Maybe they miss the fellowship, the music, the
teachings. Maybe they miss the friends, true friends who stuck with them. But
really what they miss is Jesus. He never left, he hasn’t changed, and just as
once he welcomed you into the kingdom, now he welcomes you back. But like the
first time, they are going to have to change...and Jesus will guide them gently
back. And ahead....but it will be different than when they left. I hope they
are ready for an exciting time in Christ, for it is an exciting time to be a
Christian. And if you are a Christian biker, the ride just got better.
Personally I rather be riding thinking about Jesus, than in church thinking
about riding. But it happens, and Jesus understands. So he has carefully woven
motorcycling into my relationship with him. And our family is stronger because
of it. We ride together, and share those times later. But the common thread is
not that we ride, but that we ride with Jesus. We didn’t give up riding to
raise a family, start a career, or move to another state. Nor did we give up
Jesus, he went with us. So while some are looking to return to precious
memories, and rekindle them, our memories, our testimonies never stopped. We
can look back at how things were, but we also look at how things are, and how we
have grown with Jesus. But to the many prodigals who left, welcome back. Jesus
has been waiting, and has good things to tell you. To show you, to give you a
hope and a future. The time in between when you left, he has given you a
testimony, and now is welcoming you to encourage others, “don’t be like me, be
like Jesus.” In the fires and in the floods of life, stay close to him. The
storms will end, and you will be amazed at how time flies without him. Don’t
spend time looking in your rear view mirror, the past may be gaining...set your
sights on things on high and follow God.
Most of my life has been seen through the eyes of Christ behind
handlebars. If you need to sit somewhere, why not sit where you are
comfortable. But hang on for the ride, for the road gets twisty, and faster.
Bumps get bigger and we need all the suspension God has to offer to make it. So
I look forward to another ride with my old friends. We all have changed, Jesus
has changed me. And I can’t wait to tell them all about it. Like the crew on
Gilligan’s Island, we all set out for a three hour tour of life...and then the
storms hit. To some life has become an uncharted desert isle, to others a bad
stretch of road. No matter....it takes Jesus. My only question is why did you
wait so long? Little buddy....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com