Troy, Illinois is one of my favorite places to visit. Great people, great
patriotism, and where my friend Jacob and his family live. A simple
introduction is order here, on my first Torches Across America ride, we met in
Troy, and were greeted in a special way. The absolute highlight of our ride, of
which there were many, about 200 motorcycles greeted us outside of town, then
escorted to the city park, where the entrance was lined with Cub Scouts holding
American flags, and a hook and ladder at full extension with a huge flag.
Overwhelmed with emotion, when I parked I looked back and a little boy, Jacob
was in a wheel chair. As I talked with him, his Dad explained he has leg
perthes, which I once had. How rare is that? And we visited, and later I felt
a tug at my shirt, it was Jacob. I was his hero, could he have my autograph?
And the seed was set for a friendship between two families, spanning three
generations. I even wrote about him in Wheels of Grace Magazine,
touching his Dad, he loved the story, and it really became special when he
discovered it was about Jacob.
In 2006, I was spokesman for Torches, and again Troy did not disappoint.
And I had a special treat planned. Sharing about our ride, and the heroes of
911, first responders, and veterans, I told them of a local hero they might not
know about, Jacob. We had prayed for him, and the little boy in the wheel chair
had greeted me holding a poster welcoming me as we entered the park. He was
walking, playing as any normal 7 year old would, and he was about to go up on
stage with me. The crowd roared when I told of his miraculous recovery, and
suddenly all the attention was on him. A true hero who had won a battle against
a potentially crippling disease, and after the press from newspapers to TV
wanted to interview him. God had given me the idea, and Jacob and his family
were basking in his 15 minutes of fame. A night he will always remember when a
group of bikers came to town, and a little boy got to tell his story.
But not all could get to him, and one local St. Louis TV station
interviewed me, which I don’t mind, but I had wanted this to be Jacob’s night.
At first the questions seemed harmless enough, then she dropped the bomb, “how
do you feel about Bush’s involvement in Iraq?” As I tried to explain we were
not a political group, but honoring America and its heroes, she got hostile.
And aggressive, I was trying to remain cool. Just a few feet away Jacob was
having the night of his life, no way was this woman going to ruin it. As she
pressed harder, she asked, “aren’t you afraid to go to sleep tonight because of
the world situation? Aren’t you afraid to die?” And the door had been
opened...
I explained I was a Christian, and not afraid to die, as I knew my final
destination was heaven. I trusted God to take me there, and she can too. At
which she made a face, and the interview was over. Which left me smiling, as
behind her, her cameraman was giving me the right on gesture, the one Kirk
Gibson gave after hitting his home run in the World Series. Go man it told
me...I like what you are saying. And the night was a success, and I would
continue to hear from Jacob and his family. On a trip to Disneyland, he spent
an afternoon with us and his grandparents, we have become family. I have a box
with all the items he has sent me over the years, from birthday and Christmas
cards to graduation dates of him and his little brother Adam. A special hat he
made me sits on my shelf in my office. A door was opened that night in 2005,
and extended again in 2006. And God let me share Jacob and his testimony, for
which I will be forever blessed. And as for Jacob, he was excited as he joined
the Cub Scouts, and would get to line the entrance next year holding a flag.
And when he was introduced at his first meeting, he became known as “that
Jacob,” a hero. His 15 minutes of fame extending....
I believe that when God gets the glory, we get the blessings. But grace
goes way beyond that, it takes a disease and uses it to bless us, so we can
share his story about how he healed us. It allows us to speak before a secular
crowd and share Jesus, for Jesus and patriotism go hand in hand. It allows
grown men to cry when they hear taps played, and remember lost ones. It allows
us to seek refuge in our pain from the only one who can heal and comfort. It
allows us to be ourselves, and not be forced to worship as the state demands.
It allows us to succeed, or to fail, as our decisions allow. It gives us a
freedom that only can be found in the hearts of men, fully provided by Jesus
Christ. And it is fully expressed in the song “America, America, God shed his
grace on thee...” and when he crowns his good with brotherhood, it is found
from sea to shining sea. In the hearts of those who believe. A lesson Torches
taught me as we rode from sea to sea, but was sown first hand in the heartland,
in a city park next to a cornfield. By a little boy and his family....
I had the pleasure of meeting Jacob’s Grandpa before he died, a cool man.
And have met with his father, and I can see where Jacob gets his values. Which
I hope he will pass on. If he doubts ever, I hope to refer him back to that hot
September evening, in the park, where we met. And a year later when he was the
star, the hero. And how he can pass it on to others. Love is like that, you
cannot keep it inside. When you meet Jesus something magical happens, hearts
and lives are changed. And the blessings flow. Sadly the TV reporter that
night missed that message, but keep praying for her. When others bragged on how
they met Jacob that night, she went away she thought empty handed. But I had
shared the gospel with her, simple and in love. Maybe just a seed planted, God
will provide the harvest. Like he did for Jacob, and others. Troy, Illinois,
just an exit off the freeway, across the river from St. Louis, but a reminder
that where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. God Bless America,
America bless God. May his grace continue to be shed on thee.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com