Indian is back-again! After leaving us in all but name only in the early
1950’s, it has gone through several owners, bankruptcies, and new beginnings.
Today owned by Polaris of snow mobile and Victory fame, it is alive and well,
and giving American built V-twin owners another alternative to the bar and
shield brand. I had ridden the earlier come back bikes, and can see why they
might fail, underbuilt and overpriced, you can only do so much based on an old
name, old design, and old reputation. My friend Nathan could tell you best
about the big dressers, as he rode one over 21,000 miles, visiting all 50 state
capitals in an effort to raise motorcycle awareness on driving tests. Sponsored
by Allstate, he rode in 111 days more than most will ride in a decade. My hero,
and a friend who was riding our dream for each of us.
Talking with Sonny Barger two years ago at Hollister, we talked motorcycles
and his new Indian. He had been looking for a way out of Harley Davidson for
years, and had switched to Victory-“loved it” he told me. But was really
enjoying the power and performance of his new Indian Roadmaster. Again here a
guy who rides more than most talk, and when talking of my Triumphs, he was
interested, but would never ride one. He heard they are great bikes, great
performance, he still likes to go fast at 77, but they aren’t built in America,
the number one and main criteria for his personal ride. If they were, he’d ride
one. I’ll take that as a compliment, not an endorsement, and these two long
distance riders testimonies speak more than their cool ads. By the way, Nathan
has ridden 1000 miles in one day on his Scrambler, which now has over 100,000
miles on it, so he knows. But one thing both companies have in common, is an
illustrious past, then went away, but never died. Then came back by building a
quality product that performs, lives up to its image and thrives today. I have
ridden both the new big Indians, I don’t like big bikes, and the new Scout, I
like. Good power looks cool. But needs rear shocks, where have you heard that
one before. But both companies, Indian and Triumph resurrected a name that had
been alive and died, breathing life back into it, and motorcycling is the better
for it. Failing to succeed, in their failure they are now succeeding, a lesson
for all, not told by positive mental attitude types, but taught in the Bible for
thousands of years. It is in failing that we succeed in life. But only in
Christ.
Riding through draught stricken farm lands, the dust blows and weeds grow
where once crops did. But after a little rain and then sunshine, the ground
bursts forth in fruit. God delivers his promise to the earth, by pouring water
and creating streams on dry ground, and also on the dry streams of our hearts.
Only in failure, and realizing we are lost sinners do we gain victory in
Christ. It is not the record, the victories, the homes or cars owned, or even
the miles ridden, it takes forgiveness in Jesus. We can have all the things
that the ads tell us are success, but can fail at the entrance to eternal
life-unless we acknowledge we are a failure. I have sat through sales meetings,
encouragement classes, been discipled and discipled others, but without
repentance, admitting you are a failure and seeking forgiveness, you never
succeed. When we are told God’s ways are not our ways, maybe he is telling us
something. For where have you ever heard a man based plan that if you fail you
succeed, if you lose you win? That if you are broken you will be lifted up?
Only God has that plan, and gives us the example of his son, Jesus Christ. He
never owned anything, was born in a rented barn stall, never owned a home, was
buried in a borrowed tomb, and even his clothes were auctioned off. Talk about
a loser....He was humbled past humiliation, and we face it too, but can avoid it
when turning to him. For he overcame death, no one can beat that, the ratio is
100% of us will die. But he came back, and we will too if we acknowledge him as
Lord. That he is God, and the way, the truth, and the life. That is God’s
plan, a choice he leaves up to us. God is totally honest, knows who we are and
our problems, and nothing surprises him. Nothing. While our minds make excuses
and try to smooth things over, he deals in truth. We pretend to be something we
are not, he loves us as we are. Remarkable proof from the Bible, that to be a
success, you must first fail.
Few remember that Harley almost failed 35 years ago, it took a government
bailout in the form of tariffs on Japanese bikes to rescue them. They
reinvented themselves via marketing, and today continue to improve their
product. But most based on market perception and image, a theory not set aside
for riding, but for life. We are so concerned as to how people see us, we fail
to act as to how God sees us. What a change it would be, and is when we do.
And his change is available to all, both riders and non. But first we need to
fail, something we all have in common, we are born into sin. Then we need to
repent, and salvation is simple, only found in Jesus Christ. And by failing in
life, we succeed in the afterlife. Yet some are willing to give up eternity for
a few todays....are you?
I know many who are locked up in prison, behind doors where there is no
escape from their sentence. But all are prisoners to themselves in sin, locked
up in sin and pride, needing a way out. Some feeling self sufficient, but not
knowing a day is coming when their suffiency can only be found in Christ. Only
God can unlock the doors to their souls and let them live, and be saved. This
is his promise, that you have life, and you have it abundantly. True success
starts by failing, and works from the inside out, from the heart. Maybe it is
simple enough to know that there are two kinds of people, the forgiven and the
unforgiving. Forgiven by Christ, we forgive others, and ourselves. If we won’t
forgive, we cannot be forgiven, for we fail to acknowledge our sin. It is that
simple.
When all the hype is over, when the ads fade, and it is just you behind the
bars of handle, when truth is in the wind in your face, you see God
differently. No hype, no perception, no advertising come ons. It starts by
failing, and you already have done that. The next step is up to you, open your
heart and let God in. Be driven by his spirit, and fueled by his love. Find
out what real performance is all about. God already has plans to meet your
needs, go before him and acknowledge them and him. Watch as your failures turn
to success, as losing turns to victory, as he has changed lives for over 2000
years. All found in his book, the Bible. God never fails, now that ought to be
a great tag line for any ad! And you don’t have to be made in America to
enjoy! Jesus too is coming back-again! Yes, there is life after death, but
only in failing, with success only found in Jesus Christ.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com