Having endured too many motivational meetings in my time, I am keenly aware
of all the buzz words we are told to adhere too. To say positive things instead
of negative things to keep the good energy flowing, see there goes one. My
glass is half full, not half empty. Depends on if I drank some of it, or only
wanted a swallow for my Oreos. You will often hear racers tell you “to finish
first, first you must finish.” An ode to those who are known for crashing on
the first lap. Or running out of gas like Robbie Gordon 5 miles from winning
the Indy 500. Or when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Going where?
Rushing off into the oblivion? We used to tell others there is no substitute
for cubic inches, now with smaller engines with turbos making more power, there
is no substitute for higher pressures. I guess there is a replacement for
displacement. How about winner being first loser? A podium finish may not get
you the trophy girl, but you do get to spray other racers with champagne. Even
the second place winner in a Monopoly beauty contest got $10. I got so sick of
hearing that if you don’t plan you are planning to fail I failed planning, and
started doing. Which only upset the managers, particularly when I quit going to
sales meetings. Boring, just a chance to get away from getting things done.
Even Tom Waites weighed in on giving advice, saying “I rather have a bottle in
front of me than a frontal lobotomy.” But yesterday I came across a new one,
one that I have been living based on a variation of its theme. Simply put it
states, “Did not finish beats did not start every time.” Pause to reflect on
that a moment.
I have always encouraged my sons to be themselves, which occasionally got
them in trouble, and me criticized for being a lousy father. A few years ago
when Christopher decided to go after his dream of music, I wasn’t sure, but it
wasn’t for me, but for him, and I encouraged it. I told him “don’t ever look
back and say I wish I had taken the chance.” And he didn’t and now is playing
around the world living his dream. Not famous, but secure in who he is, and
still chasing his dream to higher ground. He took the chance, having parents
who encourage him helped him, and I wonder if he had never started, how he would
have ended up. Always wondering “what if...” too many live a what if life, for
no other reason than that is their choice.
God has given us this incredible gift of 20/20 hindsight. The ability to
look back at a time when we were too blind to look ahead. Losing the highest
paying job in 2005 looked like a disaster at the time, but it enabled me to go
on my First Torches Across America ride, and meet so many who touched my life.
If working, I never would have gone. Meeting Father Al and becoming part of the
Flight 93 Chapel led me introduce other so it, and increase their ministries.
God knew, I only saw losing my income at the time. What I got back can never be
measured in dollars. So many of us fail because we never try-there goes one of
those sayings again. Over the years we ride differently, seeing more while
riding less, our eyes trained to stop when the opportunity presents itself. And
sometimes you don’t recognize the opportunity until you have passed it by, now I
stop. I check out roads wondering where they go, increasing my wandering while
doing it. I meet people, learn about local history, places to eat, and places
to avoid just by taking the time to wander. Some great rides had been passed by
for years only because I was in such a hurry to get there-hurry up and wait,
when I could have been riding. I am not quite ready for the cruiser set yet,
but all my bikes seem to be able to execute slower speeds when dictated by my
right wrist. Which is controlled by my mind, which I have been told is a
horrible thing to waste. So I find myself living life not worrying about the
finish, but more concerned about the starting. I eventually will get there, it
is the memories along the way that I remember most.
When Bill Shakespeare wrote “it is better to have loved and lost, than to
have never loved at all,” he may have a point. At least in theatrical audiences,
and in riding. It is better to have ridden a motorcycle and lost, than to never
have ridden at all. And with many of my age group giving up riding, I hear the
tales of what they used to do, but cannot any more. Health, income, finances,
and grandchildren being the excuses I hear, I counter with riding keeps me
healthy, a great exercise. What can be cheaper entertainment than a ride
burning a tank of gas, going to see your grandchildren? And giving them a
ride? And telling them stories of where you have ridden? Sure beats the
rereading of minutes from your meetings. What stories, testimonies do you pass
on, and keep alive?
Sadly I know many who are getting old because the quit riding, not quitting
because the they got old. Same with a walk with God. Situations changed, and
they didn’t. So they stopped going to church, stopped going to Bible studies,
and soon Jesus was not part of their lives anymore. Situations dictated their
walk rather than the spirit. Where once they shared testimonies, now they
offered excuses, and soon their life of joy became one of trouble. No peace
because of no Jesus. A bad situation may have caused them to stumble, one good
decision can forgive all that. All they have to do is ask. Maybe not
backslidden as the church defines it, but people who are just looking for a way
back. And who are a great encouragement to others when they come back.
But worse are those who lived a life without Christ. Maybe they went to
church, might have joined even, but never knew Jesus. And when times got tough,
took wrong alternatives. Some unto death. They never got the chance to finish
in heaven because they never started with Jesus. They sought alternative
methods, alternative gods, a picture of a man kneeling in pain before a BMW with
its hood open and smoke pouring out shows where they chose to worship.
Alternative gods will eventually break down, leave you alone, and cannot save.
I can hug my motorcycles, they cannot hug me back. They can hug the curves, the
curves have no affection for me in return. Only Jesus never fails. Never. And
with the records of so many failing without him, doesn’t taking a chance on him
make sense? Why do so many who know him make it through the tough times,when
others who have earthly riches worry and never make it? Would you rather hear
my testimonies or my excuses?
I admire those who at least try, even if they fail. A wise man once told
me that only successful men fail at least once. And grow from it. Why go to
hell if you don’t have to? Learn from those who have lost, and turned to Jesus
and won heaven. Who have been forgiven, and have testimonies. Who ride into
old age, and glide into eternity. Who live their dream of heaven, because God
leads them there. Even those who choose Christ with a little faith are better
off, even if they worry from time to time. We are all a work in process. It is
who we turn to in times of trouble that separate us from making excuses. How
many testimonies have you passed up by making excuses? I hope not as many as
the chances to make one you have today.
A positive mental attitude will not get you to heaven, only Jesus will.
Whiners who believe inherit it too, they just didn’t enjoy the ride. Some are
just along for the ride, I choose to make Jesus the ride. And to enjoy it. And
watch as each day presents problems that he takes me through. Not around but
through. Momentary light afflictions Paul called them. Losing a job, facing
cancer, having a car stolen, being told no. Each one a chance for God to be
God. To show you his love, to build a testimony to encourage others with. I
have learned that every no answer means a better yes is coming. From a loving
father who loves me. Maybe David said it best when confronted by Goliath. “He
was with me against the bear and the lion, why should I worry now?” Even
Alfred E. Newman of MAD magazine tells us “What, me worry?” Can God speak
through MAD? He did speak through an ass once?
Country western songs remind us that a wife leaves, you lose your job, and
your dog runs away. And to find solace in Jack. Jesus tells us you can have
your marriage healed, he provides, and your dog will come home. And to find
solace, peace in him. Of course if you don’t give him a chance, you will never
know. So maybe did not finish does beat does not start. Start today and find
out. How many non-running bikes have been sold when they only needed gas or a
tune up? Don’t give up, give in to Christ. And win the most important race of
all, the human race. Life here is a preparation for after life, no life here,
no life after. Jesus is life, no others are. You cannot finish what you don’t
start. Life begins with Jesus. With no end in sight....let’s ride.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com