My first and only US Grand Prix was in Monterrey, California. After a long
absence, the GP was coming back to our shores, and Monterrey was filled with
bikes, and bikers, racers, and others who were seeking racing on US soil. Four
of us had ridden up, and then paired off, with Brett and I having reservations
at a Travelodge, a huge motel just inside the city, and minutes from the track.
Laguna Seca, a beautiful track, with its well known corkscrew turn was our
destination for the next two days, and pulling up, the motel was filled with
bikes. But something other than the race was the hot topic, it seemed some
lowlifes had cruised the parking lot the night before, and stolen some bikes.
Causing quite a stir, as in some circles your motorcycle takes precedence over
your wife and family, and the atmosphere was tense. We talked with two guys,
one who had stopped a theft in progress, and was determined to catch, or at
least protect his GSXR 1000, which was highly customized. He was hot, and the
manager and his friends tried to calm him down, but he wanted revenge. After a
few minutes of listening, and taking his advice to be careful, some had even had
their race trailers taken, jokingly when checking in I mentioned to the desk
clerk “can I take my motorcycle into my room?” His answer surprised me, “of
course, if it will fit.” Whatta ya mean, if it will fit? So we rode around the
building, and entered a double door, and rode down the hallway to our room. And
“if they will fit,” they barely did, and after riding to dinner, then back, we,
the four of us, Brett and his 750 Ninja, and me and my FJ1100 were safe and
secure for the night. With one parked between our beds, and the other barely in
the room, logistics for the shower and bathroom took jumping over a bed, and
climbing over the FJ, and the TV was partially obscured, but our bikes were
safe. And off to sleep we went, with dreams of the next days race filling our
heads.
But something else filled our heads, and waking up to headaches we found
that the AC couldn’t recycle the pungent smell of hi-test gas, and the smell was
horrible. Everything that next day tasted like premium, but the bikes were
safe. And right outside next to our room, was the guy with the GSXR, sleeping
in blankets, his chain wrapped around the swing arm and then his leg. And with
a loaded .44 across his chest....no one had the courage to wake him, should he
think we were burglars...and he was still sleeping in after we came back from
breakfast. We had all had a good night’s sleep, not so sure about the rest, and
endured one last night of premium inhaling. Such is the price you pay for the
ones you love, and if you don’t ride you won’t get it. By the way, no thefts
were reported that night at the Travelodge, but down the road they had hit
again. The Travelodge policy of no pets, but allowing motorcycles just may have
saved the night.
Now I have been given discounts because I rode, been allowed to park in
their garage, or on their front porch, but never the extreme courtesy that one
night in Monterrey. Long before the Internet and Tripadvisor.com, this place
would have been given 10 stars in a five star rating, these guys knew riders,
and think of the reviews they would have gotten. And how all bikers would seek
them out...all they asked was no starting your bike in the building. And for no
extra charge, we slept with our bikes. Biker friendly to the extreme, a far cry
from Easy Rider just 20 years before...
Having had two cars stolen, and my garage broken into, I know the sick
feeling of being robbed. Of having your security violated, and property
stolen. Scripture tells us “the thief comes to rob and destroy,” and the scars
that are left after the theft remain. A lack of trust is gone, you become
suspicious of anyone, and things that are once taken for granted, now are clung
to. Like bikes in a motel room, we hold onto what is dear, hoping to protect
ourselves and our property, while some seek revenge. Some forgive, but we don’t
forget. The “first time your fault, second time mine” theory in place. But the
one thing that we lose is our trust, and when later advised the bikes had been
stolen by other riders, our little community of trust, our brotherhood had been
violated. Everyone became a suspect, and a bond among ourselves had been
broken. Nothing new, since the Garden of Eden a trust had been broken, a
brotherhood violated, and many chose to seek revenge. While God offered a
better way, a just and loving way. He offered Jesus to reunite us, to forgive
our sins, and even those who sin against us. It is hard to forgive those that
violate you, but Jesus set the example forgiving us, so we can forgive others.
But what when we don’t forgive, we won’t forget and bitterness sets in? We are
told that bitterness is like yeast in a bread, it goes throughout the whole
loaf, and all things in our life are tainted by bitterness. From our rides, to
who we ride with, to the dealer who we deal with, we lose something, suddenly
everyone is out to get us, and we suffer the most. A brotherhood is broken,
relationships are shattered, and soon the joy of riding is gone. Around every
curve someone is just waiting to get us....and soon the joy of riding is gone.
All because we chose bitterness over forgiveness.
Jesus forgives all sins excepting for denying him. Which means you deny
his forgiveness, and think your way is better. It can be a little thing said or
done years ago, or some big thing recently, but soon you are overcome with
bitterness, and all your decisions are jaundiced. You become more bitter, and
the things you once enjoyed now are a hindrance, you haven’t left the scene of
the crime. You want revenge, and sadly you may never get it, not realizing the
revenge is killing you. Forgive and go riding, get over it. Let Jesus handle
it, cast your cares on him. He can handle it, he will show you how to forgive.
It is time to unchain your bike and go ride it, to get on with your life. Peter
understood getting on with his life, no matter how many times he fell, he never
looked back. And where your eyes go, your bike will follow. You may be headed
for a ditch, or in one, and wondering how you got there.
One night in Monterrey a trust was violated among a brotherhood. 2000
years ago Jesus showed us the way back. A way to have a brotherhood, a family
relationship restored, and the antidote for bitterness. Do not become overcome
with evil, overcome evil with good. Turn to Jesus, he is like the brother
biker, he will be there with you in jail. On the road, at the track, and
everywhere. It is us who turn from him, it is a self inflicted wound called
bitterness that separates us. Maybe the answer was found from the desk clerk,
“if they will fit.” Fit Jesus into your life and enjoy life again. Restore
riding to a fun place, and restore relationships that have been damaged. A
thief one night came to steal, but the destruction was far worse than the
property taken. Something that was unseen was taken, only Jesus can replace
it. For those of us who are forgiven and forgive, we know. Follow our example
today, be forgiven and forgive. The ride becomes that much more sweeter, the
air cleaner, and food taster. The bike faster, and all it should be.
Forgiveness starts with you and Jesus today. A lesson learned one night in
Monterrey.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com