Fall is upon us, which means cooler riding conditions, wearing a jacket,
and for some putting their bike away for the duration. Having ridden year
round, except for one year living at 8300’ and having 500+ inches of snow, I dig
out my winter gloves, my warm jackets, and prepare for colder riding. No big
deal today, as heated suits have become the norm, but in years past, and this
one too, I don’t have one, nor plans to buy one. Which will probably limit my
riding to above freezing, so again living in So Cal there will be no need to
winterize the motorcycle, it will be ridden all winter. But while looking at
the new Triumphs, no Bonnevilles yet, the young sales guy was complaining it was
too cold to ride that morning, so he took his car. Now cold, like hot is
relative, but his cold began at 60, and went into a no two wheel adventure at
50. We won’t even get into rain...and when he told Theresa about his helmet
head, a badge of honor at our house, it too made me wonder, is winter coming?
What effect will it have on our riding? Will I be forced into a car, a cage?
Who will ride the new Triumphs if I am? So many problems...so we went riding.
Problem solved.
If only all my problems were solved so easily. But it made my mind think
back, to one morning while living at Vallecito Lake. We were 27 miles from
Durango, living above 8300’ feet altitude, and we were having winter. The total
snowfall was to be above 500 inches, over 40 feet, but they had the greatest
road crew for removing snow I had ever seen, or would see, and everyday we got
to town. No blizzard shut us down, or Durango, but it could slow the town down
or put it on delay. We had a 1978 Rabbit at the time, which started at –42
degrees, great car for cold and snow. And with our brazen determination, we
were out in the snow every day, and into town. Except one day, we broke the
rule of getting out before the plows, and paid the price.
The elevation dropped down from where we lived, but picked up again just
before Lemon Dam, a long 5 mile stretch of uphill, then a left into town. We
had done it so many times, the car even knew the way. But today was different,
as after mile 4 or there abouts, the snow was so deep, we couldn’t push it any
more, as it was almost a foot deep, and over the bumper. And still coming
down. Not having the sense that God gave geese, we had tried to plow our way
into town, and found ourselves stuck, with no place to turn around, snow still
falling, cold below zero, and almost a total white out. So rolling down the
window, we started backing down, hoping no one else was as foolish as us, and
that we would make it OK, and not become a legend of freezing to death and found
in the spring. Now if you think driving in the snow was tough, it was nothing
compared to backing down in it, head out the window. But for five miles we did
it, without stopping, and no one was behind us. By the time we had gotten back
down to County Road 501 where we lived, the left part of my beard had frozen and
broken off, my neck was so sore I could barely turn it, and it would take hours
to thaw out. Nerves still on edge, it took a while to settle down at home and
build a fire...hearing the sound of the first plows some hours later. But we
had made it, I was partially beardless, and no lives were lost, no thanks to my
poor decision to start out before the plow. A lesson learned, the hard way.
When Mrs. Lot was saved from Sodom and Gamorrah, she was told to not look
back. Now I can see why, looking back can be dangerous, and potentially
deadly. We are told to set our sights on things on high, to look forward to the
second coming of Christ, and to seek him in all things-first. My 5 mile
backward trip should be enough lesson for anyone. But she did look back, and
turned to a pillar of salt. God had provided a way of escape, but she thought
she was OK, she was making it out of S & G, and could make it on her own.
So she looked back....all I got was frostbite and a stiff neck, and only lost a
beard, or part of it. She died. And I wonder how many times we set out with
good intentions, but not Godly intentions. How many times we think we can make
it alone, or worse yet, “I’ll take it from here God.” And end up failing.
Maybe that is why we have so many accidents close to home, we trust our
surroundings instead God. Instead of leaning on Jesus, we fall back on our own
understanding, based on experiences. A common cause for failure. But when
being directed by the spirit, we too will encounter obstacles, storms, and the
only way is Jesus. We say we follow him, but do we? Or do we wait until caught
in a blizzard to call for help? God has promised us storms in our lives, and to
take us through them. But sometimes we go it alone, when if we had only waited
on him, we would be OK. How many times must you fail until you realize that
Jesus is the way, not only to heaven, but to get you through the day too?
There were no good Samaritans that snowy day, even they knew to stay home.
But God guided us, teaching us a lesson about him and weather. And we never set
out like that again...I wish I could say that about other experiences I should
have trusted him in. But his mercy, which appears after we screw up or disobey,
is there, and looking ahead never felt so good after backing those 5 miles.
Beards will grow, there will other days, and the snow will melt, eventually.
The question is “what were we thinking that day?” And why didn’t we obey
Jesus? Weren’t there enough signs? Did I tell you it wasn’t light yet when we
started out?
So what a memory to have when looking at motorcycles in 75 degree weather.
But on all our rides, we need Jesus. Hot or cold, he is with you. We can dress
for cold, even rain, but snow and ice keep us home, or in the truck. Sometimes
the signs are there, and evident after, can we seek God first, then add all
other things like Matthew 6:33 urges us to do? Can we not lean on our own
understanding but lean on Jesus? It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark, he
was doing what God told him to do, and he and his family were safe. It was
snowing when we left. Obedience is better than sacrifice, no matter the
weather! And sometimes it takes cold hands on a warm autumn day to remind you.
Listen to God, follow the spirit. And above all, don’t go out before the
plow! This poor guy was worried about helmet head, I wonder what he would have
said about my beard?
The same way out of S & G was the same way out we needed that
morning-Jesus. In the midst of your storm he is there, better yet avoid the
storm by listening to the spirit. No salt in my diet any more, I can look back
now, she can’t. A lesson learned one morning in a blizzard, and remembered one
after while looking at new bikes. And I have helmet head to prove it!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com