There is an intersection by my house that leads to the freeway. The road
being in a neighborhood is posted 25, but people zip along at 50-60, thanks
Escondido PD. But when they leave the intersection to go to the freeway, you
can hear them accelerate, I just cannot see them. And some sound really fast,
some just noisy, and some you can hear obeying the speed limit posted. But the
sound heard can be misleading, as many wind out first gear, bang second, then
back out of the throttle, giving a false sense of speed. A ZX-10 can hit 102
mph in first gear, while a Harley may manage 40, both may be loud, but only one
is fast. But both give the illusion of speed, at least from where I am sitting
out of sight 200 feet away. But some sound really fast, you can tell how long
it takes to wind out the gears, and I can tell over the years how fast they are,
or appear to be by the listening distance when they upshift. Then back out
before having to crest the hill. So fast and quick being relative words,
really do mean something. There was fast for a BMW-until the S1000RR took over
the streets, fast for a Harley until 100 hp bikes became available, and fast for
any size you ride. But quick and fast is only relative to whatever the other
guy is riding, or driving, and often times how fast it sounds or feels. Of
course none of this is scientific, or based on true readings, or timing slips,
but still it is fun feeling faster than the other guy, even if you aren’t.
An urban legend when I was in high school was the guy, sometimes
even the girl who had the fastest accelerating car. Usually an SS396 Chevelle
where I lived, 1969 version, they would place a $100 bill sticking out of the
glove box, and if you could grab it when they started off, you could keep it.
These cars accelerated so quick no one was ever able to grab one, or so the
legend went. Por Favor had one, and I could grab fives and tens, but learned to
cheat a little, which in racing is only cheating if you got caught. Never met
the illusive $100 bill challenge. But these cars, and many like them were fast,
rather quick off the line. And many 0-60 times were won or lost based on what
second gear would do. If only 55, you lost time shifting to third, if over 60,
you gained time. How many cars were blown up trying to get that extra 2-3 mph
out of second is not recorded, you can lose while winning too. But one constant
from back then, that still exists today is the ride from the passenger seat.
Whether buddy seat sitting, or sitting next to the driver in a car, it always
seems faster from the passenger seat. Not sure why, one of those things in life
that just is, but switching seats somehow lessens the effect. I have ridden in
fast cars, only to be disappointed when put behind the wheel. Some of the
thrill is gone, they just don’t seem as fast. I’m sure some psycho babbler
somewhere will come up with the answer, for me I’ll refer to it as the passenger
seat speed illusion, or PSSI. PSSI will impress your friends, cause your wife
to complain, and impress little kids. But like my observation of speed from my
office window, has nothing to do with anything other than opinion. Sight and
sound can leave to an illusion, so can sitting in the passenger seat. And
somewhere out there cruising the back streets of my memory is a green, 1969
Chevelle SS396, just looking to embarrass me by trying to grab a $100 bill.
From the passenger seat, of course.
When Jesus tells us “the meek shall inherit the earth,” we think of a group
of white shirted geeks, with pocket protectors, and glasses taking over. Maybe
they have, as the nerds in high school seem to be the geeks of technology
today. Where as many of the jocks from my high school are working for their
father’s pushing lawn mowers. But meekness to Jesus means power under control.
Like not spinning your tires losing speed to a drag racer, the burnout looks
cool, you aren’t going anywhere, just burning rubber. But it is the power under
control, getting the power to the ground that makes speed. When I rode the 220
hp Rocket 3 last week, that’s 220 hp on the dyno, not an ad, second gear under
full throttle just wasted the rear tire. And scared the crap out of me. Only
in third could it begin to hook up, still scaring the crap out of me, but
accelerating at a rapid pace. It not only sounded fast, it was fast. But God
refers to his power under control, and we are to be meek like him. We don’t
have to race everyone that comes along. We don’t have to be the best or
fastest, we only need to be us, which is the hardest challenge you may face
today. Being who you are in Christ. And only when it is his power in
control,will you get all that you can. Off road racers refer to it as going
less slow, getting the most out of a section. If a 60 mph section, getting
62-65. If a 25 mph section, getting 27-29, but never trying to get 60. DNF’s
don’t count in the points standings. So power in control that works in racing,
works in life also. And most importantly in a walk with God.
To God meekness is the characteristic of human nature and behavior. It is
shown in long suffering, righteousness, patient,and forgiving. All
characteristics of God, listed as fruit of the spirit. It is power under
control, and differs from humility, as humility is a reflection of us, while
meekness is a reflection of Christ. Humility is an attitude towards ourselves,
meekness is an attitude towards others. And only two people in scripture were
called meek, Moses and Jesus. Both exercised God’s power under control, yet
only one can save. Moses represents power under control of by the law, Jesus
represents power under control by the spirit. Which are reflected in how we
react to others, do we show love or revenge? Do we try to win at all costs, or
be happy knowing we did our best, in Christ? Who do we credit in our wins and
losses will tell more than we want some to see.
So power under control works at the traffic light as well as in the
Christian’s life. Living in the spirit, we have the choice to follow or
neglect. In the spirit it reflects being able to do all things in Christ, in
his love. His spirit. Where we are more concerned for our neighbor than
ourselves in the outcome. True love doesn’t demand of itself, it gives. Does
your love give, or does it demand? The best seat, the fanciest Bible cover,
knowing scripture, or by living it? Many fall back on education, memorization,
or studying to find themselves approved. The spirit gives life, it is the
education based on application. Loving your neighbor as yourself, praying for
your enemy, and loving the unlovable. Knowing God will give you the words you
need when you need them, rather than falling back on memorization. It is the
old saying that to finish first, first you must finish. Finishing the race more
important, more important than winning it all but giving up your soul. Only in
meekness do we see all the Jesus we can be in others, when he gets the glory we
get the blessings. We reap what we sew, so sew meekness. His power under your
control. Self control, the last one listed in the fruit section. Power under
control of the choices you make. And it all starts with choosing Jesus first.
There is an old Pete Rose story of having a ball called a strike by an
umpire. When he argued it was out of the strike zone, the umpire responded “but
it sounded like a strike.” Are we humbling ourselves in Christ to be the
example, or becoming meek to show him as the example? One of the three great
things that are, is you cannot brag about how humble you are. But your life can
brag on Jesus by how meek you are. How much power of his you are under control
of. How you walk in the spirit. Racers know when the friction zone is, when
the power under control turns to smoke. It may make a good show, burnouts do.
And we all do them, just don’t become one. Lean on Jesus, knowing that being in
the spirit brings life and liberty. PSSI may impress your friends, and even
yourself, but never the cops. Another example of the law bringing death, while
the spirit gives life. It may be only a license, but it gives freedom to ride.
Remember the most cautious driver out there is one who left his wallet at home
with his license in it. Humbled rather than humiliated. While the meek go by
casting their cares on Jesus. Power under control, whether by wrist or right
foot, it is always better to be meek than than busted. PSSI in your walk with
Jesus is an illusion others see and you don’t. Maybe there is some truth that
you cannot ride faster than your angels can fly. And they are probably quick
enough to grab your $100 bill. Keep your meekness, and your money. Walk in
Christ forgiven. In the spirit. There is power, and then there is real
power...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com