As I cruise the new bikes on the floor at local dealers, I look at all
ranges, not just what I ride. But I find myself lately more interested in the
people looking at the bikes, and really cast a careful eye to those attempting
to throw a leg over one. It doesn’t matter the age, or even the gender any
more, with so many women riding, but you can tell who rides or has ridden and
who hasn’t. Watch a young guy, just got his license on Ninja, and you can see
an accident in the making. Riding home one day through Santa Paula a young guy
on a new Ninja with paper tags was accelerating fast, Theresa and I looked at
each other and agreed he was in trouble. Maybe the tank top should have given
him away too, but after a few light changes, a car stopped quickly, he was still
on the gas, and hit her. Biker and bike down....and it didn’t have to happen.
Do we call that an accident or an on purpose or a glimpse of things to come? I
see very few sitting on the new bikes carefully adjusting the mirrors, or
looking to get acquainted with the hand controls. With so many taking the MSF
course, which I recommend to new riders, they may have passed, gotten a license,
but now need a ride. Thinking they can ride, they go out and buy what payment
they can afford, and ride off like our friend in Santa Paula did, and are left
with a crashed bike with payments. And it didn’t have to happen.
We were all new riders once, and with so many coming back after years away
are new twice. When I hear someone my age but not my experience telling how
fast their old Honda 750 was, they think they are ready for something bigger.
Their ego will not allow them to get a 500, which will be faster, lighter,
better handling and have better brakes, I used to ride a 750! Which may explain
so many used Harleys in metric shops, with low miles. Just because they could
afford the payment doesn’t mean you can ride, and they trade for something
smaller and less expensive. More ridable. And cheaper to fix when it falls
over. But we all set off with dreams of being Kenny Roberts in our mind, of
hanging out at The Rock Store, or riding to Sturgis. We dream big, but live
small, as Kenny is fast, real unusual bikes show up at The Rock Store, and
Sturgis is 1800 miles away. And you only have 1800 miles on your bike, and less
than 3000 on you. So I emphasize to all, ride your own ride, you will enjoy it
more, and so will we. Nothing ruins a rider’s day than seeing another rider
down than them being down themselves. The stories start of how many are killed,
we all ride too fast, we are crazy, 1%ers, criminals, and organ donors. And
nothing could be farther from the truth, or is it closer than we admit?
New Christians need to beware of the snare that awaits them. Jesus is all
new, their life is changing, and some well meaning old saint tells them “you
need to go out and witness.” They think they are ready, and go out and get
pounded by someone who knows the Bible better, may have been institutionalized
and trained, and they feel hurt and wondering where is God? They don’t
understand what happened, and are disillusioned. They have been given bad
advice based on bad doctrine, for we are to be witnesses, not go out and
witness. There is no magic switch I ever found to turn Jesus on and off for
evangelical actions, but many act like there is. And have a lousy walk, for
someone is always watching for our real witness. We were all babes in Christ
once, or hopefully will be, maybe we can learn from Isaiah in a conversation he
had with God. When he heard God asking for volunteers to go out, Isaiah said
“here I am, send me,” and God sent him out with the following good advice, as
if anything but good advice comes from him. “Be ever hearing, but never
understanding, be ever seeing but not perceiving.” Good advice for all riders
too. God never tells us he who has a mouth let him speak, he says “shut up and
listen, so you know.” Emphasis mine. They have a zealousness but not a
spiritual leading, and instead of being as wise as serpents and gentle as lambs,
the wolves eat them alive.
Some volunteer trying to impress others, “I’ll go Lord, I’m brave,” and the
congregation knows different. Some pass the buck, “sounds good Lord, but Joe is
better equipped. Maybe if he went along.” Or my favorite, or heard way too
often “send me Lord, tell me where and I’ll go. Just send me the funds, or show
me how to raise them...” Jesus told his disciples just to take what was in their
pockets long before VISA. Where God guides, he provides. Still waiting to be
called?
But when God’s word is go, we need to go. Scripture tells us “as we go to
share the gospel,” the trip being our destination. God will place Lazaruses
before you, how many have you stepped over today on your way to church? Bible
study? To spend time with God? But denied his spirit along the way? Gotta be
in the word, but is the word in you? Is that your witness? Or are you
witless? As in riding we need application of our education. Knowing the word
is good, having Jesus, who is the word in you is better. The only way to be an
effective witness. Today many new riders are recognized by their shiny leathers
and new equipment. Some are just posers, the real bikers can tell, the world
will figure them out. Works with us Christians too. Just carrying a Bible,
taking notes for all to see, having a KWVE sticker on your SUV, or reading
Christian books or watching Christian movies doesn’t make you one. In fact I
try to avoid such types, seems I always arrive after they have cheesed someone
off, and the crowd thinks that is what Christianity is all about. So when God
calls, make sure it is his voice, and not the children’s ministry overwhelmed
again. God has a place for each of us, and for even right now.
Do like Isaiah was told, listen. You will learn, and don’t try to
understand. One night trying to explain a spiritual concept to my son, God
reminded me “don’t try to explain something to him after three weeks what took
you 33 years.” Keep your eyes open, and watch as when the spirit leads you, you
grow closer to God, and he gives you understanding when you need it. Don’t be
like the well trained church goer,who when seeing me after my open heart
surgery, told me “I understand what you are going through.” “Really, I am the
only one in medical history to have what I had, and I don’t get it. Maybe you
can explain it to me...” But God knows, do you? As the inner man grows, it
will show in the outer man. Ride your own ride with Jesus, and don’t make me
keep up. Or clean up afterwards. If he can save you, he can guide you. A
world class racer asked me once to hand him a wrench as he was under a truck.
“What size?” “I don’t care,”came the reply, “I want to use it as a hammer.”
Still confused, remember a Crescent wrench is metric only, until you flip it
over to SAE. And you think you are ready to ride?
We were all new once....now do you understand?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com