Way back in the sixties, Charles Schulz, he of Charlie Brown fame, launched
a series of “Happiness is...” cartoons. The one we all remember is that of
Linus hugging his blanket, sucking his thumb, “Happiness is a warm blanket.” And
soon everyone from MAD magazine to school teachers had America extolling their
Happiness is... list. And I even had a sweatshirt, yellow with the cartoon of
Linus sucking his thumb, blanket in hand, on it. Yellow if I remember
correctly. So just to prove that if you can remember the sixties you weren’t
there, here is my list, updated 50 years of my “happiness is...from a biker’s
viewpoint.”
Happiness is riding motorcycles. Happiness is time and money to tour on
them. Happiness is 85 degrees, low humidity, and a tailwind. Happiness is
seeing a gas station just when going on reserve. Happiness is a warm jacket.
Warm gloves. Happiness is making your last payment. Happiness is waking up in
a different time zone. Happiness is outrunning a big storm. Happiness is a red
light flashing approaching, and it passes you and stops someone else. Happiness
is riding an hour for breakfast. Happiness is watching the sun rise in Key
West. And watching it set in Key West. Happiness is Albuquerque sunsets.
Happiness is your first new bike. Happiness is the next 25...each time a new
happiness. Happiness is a wife who loves to ride with you. Happiness is when
she is your best friend. Happiness is your regular bike shop staying open so
you can get the part you need that night, the day before leaving. Happiness is
another biker stopping to help you when broken down. Happiness is the
brotherhood of bikers waving to each other. Happiness is finding that special
t-shirt from a trip you thought you lost. Happiness is putting it away and
saving it..... Happiness is leaving on a cool morning, anticipating the warmth
later. Happiness is taking off the jacket, then the sweatshirt, and riding in a
t-shirt all day. Happiness is arriving at your motel and the pool is open.
Happiness is free seconds at the BBQ pit. Happiness is the car ahead paying
your toll. Happiness is the toll booth operator waving you through in the
rain...brotherhood. Another happiness. Happiness is no chicken strips.
Happiness is new tires and a trip to break them in on. Happiness is riding
press bikes for Triumph. Happiness is having neighbors who ride. Happiness is
a pickup with loading ramp. For others, too. Happiness is making the ride you
are on your favorite. Happiness is motorcycle only parking. Happiness is
planning your next tour over the winter, and counting the days until you leave.
Happiness is leaving the city behind...and new roads you never rode on before.
Happiness is a family that rides motorcycles. Happiness is reading about a
place and having been there. And happiness is just being able to ride, and
living your dream. Happiness is motorcycling.
But misery is your bike won’t crank over. Misery is the new bike you
lusted for being replaced by something faster-right after you buy it. Misery is
replacing the oil and watching it puddle on floor when you forgot to replace the
drain plug. Misery is pulling in the clutch with a cast. Misery is a motel
that doesn’t like bikers. Misery is riding in the rain. More misery is waiting
too long to put on your rain suit. Misery is a headwind, and trying to maintain
60 mph. Misery is the instructions not in English. Misery is standard tools
for metric bolts. Real misery is Whitworth anything! Misery is switching to
reserve and finding you already were on reserve. Misery is waiting for the road
call. Misery is marrying a woman who doesn’t ride. Misery is having friends
whose wives do. Misery is a cancelled biker night, after you rode 50 miles to
attend. Misery is getting stopped by the police, after passing a woman on her
cell weaving in front of them. Misery is night court. Misery is Junction,
Texas the #1 speed trap in the US of A. Misery is having the fastest bike, and
having to prove it. Misery is something not covered by warranty. Misery is the
warranty running out the night before it breaks. Misery is back ordered parts.
Misery is a broken faceshield. Misery is some loud motorcyclist who thinks you
all love the loud distorted song playing on his stereo. Misery is cars not
looking for bikes. Misery is not owning a motorcycle. And the biggest misery
of all is not being able to ride.
But real happiness is joy. Joy is knowing Jesus. Joy is the peace that
goes with it. Joy is the times spent riding in prayer. Joy is waking early and
riding before anyone else is up. Joy is Christian friends to ride with. Joy is
living in the spirit. Joy is being forgiven. Joy is being healed miraculously,
and being able to prove it. Joy is a loving church. Joy is marrying the one
who God gave you. Joy is praying for a friend. Real joy is praying for an
enemy. Joy is being saved. Joy is seeing a friend saved. Joy is sharing the
gospel. Joy is watching God take us through problems. Joy is falling asleep in
prayer, waking up in prayer at 3am, and ending the same prayer when you wake up
the next morning. Joy is watching God meet all your needs. Joy is Jesus
evident in your life. Joy is anticipating heaven when we die. Joy is not
worrying because God has it all under control. Joy is the comfort of the Holy
Spirit. Joy is worship music. Joy is finding what the spirit showed you in the
Bible. Joy is the scripture coming alive. Joy is knowing your family is
saved. Joy is being a Christian biker, and seeing the world through God’s
eyes. Joy is this ride, and the anticipation of the next. Joy is a life with
Jesus.
But misery is not knowing Christ. Misery is no joy, no peace. Misery is
not praying, but wondering. Misery is being the only one who isn’t saved, and
afraid of hell. Misery is not trusting God when you are saved. Misery is bad
doctrine, bad religion. Misery is a bad marriage. Misery is children who are
lost. Misery is tossing and turning and not sleeping when having a problem.
Misery is fear of the unknown. Misery is worrying about anything, or
everything. Misery is denying the spirit. Misery is living under legalism.
Misery is knowing you are not going to heaven because of bad doctrine telling
you you aren’t good enough. Misery is trying to be good enough and failing.
Misery is losing hope. Misery is denying the holy spirit. Misery is thinking
you can work it out. Misery is thinking you are a good person. Misery is
believing a lie. Misery is dying without Jesus. Real misery is eternal
suffering in hell. Misery is not choosing Jesus. Misery is being lonely.
Misery is no joy because of no Jesus.
But to those who believe, we have joy in the midst of suffering when our
bike won’t start. Or it rains on a ride. Or the shop is closed or the part
backordered. We carry Jesus with us in all situations, knowing we win in the
end. That momentary light afflictions only show how God’s strength is made
perfect in them. That joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of
God. And of Jesus. This is just a short list of mine, but you can see the
difference Jesus makes in my life. If your list of happiness doesn’t include
him, trust him today. Find that happiness is based on events joy is based on
Jesus. Get more from your ride with Christ, and never look back. The best
rides are still ahead. Two wheels may set your soul free, only Jesus can save
it. Happiness is the joy of the Lord. Amen.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com