As I sit here today, it is already the third of May, 4 months have passed,
and a third of 2016 is over. Where have I been? Sometimes I feel like I am on
pause, only the clock still ticks, other times I am still at half time and the
second half has begun. Maybe it is true that as you get older time goes by
faster, but I think really time stays constant, it is us that slows down. Where
once 24 hours filled a day, my clock still shows 60 minutes per hour and 24
hours per day, I’m on hour 22 and wondering where the other two went. But with
less stress, and as I look at old people, I’m not at 62, I see how in a few
years I will really be slow, so enjoy every day as I can. My main mode of
travel is still two wheels with motor included, but planning for our next long
trip, I broke it up into 200-300 mile days, not many as compared to the 500-1000
I used to do. But now I see more, stop more often as more things interest me,
and plan a direction rather than a destination. This year will be east by
northeast, and a view of middle America, as opposed to more of California,
again. Freeways be damned, it’s back roads, old highways, highways referred to
by name by locals as opposed to by number on a map, and where you actually meet
the people along the way, engaging in a conversation that is more than at the
counter“next.” Burning a tank or two of gas, at 200 miles per tank, gas stops
will be infrequent, potty stops won’t. I hope to get the most of every day on
the trip, but also the ones leading up to it. At one time it was all about the
ride, the miles, now the ride has expanded to places, meals, old museums,
meeting people more, and as the miles accumulate, the memories do too, but at a
speed my brain can handle better. Not as fast, not yet slow, maybe less slow is
the best term for it. And on two wheels the ride continues...
When James Taylor sang of “10 miles behind me, with 10,000 more to go,”
some see a long road ahead to their destination. I see the ride. America is
still out there, even if you aren’t, and waiting to brag on itself, to show just
how much God shed his grace on it. And on thee, by exploring it. And I have
seen a waning grace, not based on God’s grace, but on our grace, for we neglect
God more and more everyday. Where once we did all things based on him, today we
try to fit him into our schedule, and we do a pretty good job of it, until
something better comes along. Then it is all about us first, maybe him second,
and all of us have been there, sadly I can say I have too, been there, done
that, have the t-shirt. But as I grow in Christ, the t-shirts mean less, and
the times I missed with God seem more important. You cannot go back, so go
ahead with him, and enjoy the ride more. We come into life as a lion, full of
sin, whoever taught a baby to say “mine” or to cry when it doesn’t get its way,
I know some adults like that, and when confronted with the gospel of Jesus
Christ, give our lives to the lamb. We come in like a lion, but God gives us
the choice to go out with the lamb, to leave on an eternal ride in heaven. Yet
many still choose to live like hell, and go there. Shedding themselves of God’s
grace, but not his mercy. For the key ingredient to gain mercy is that you have
to screw up first. So all of us are eligible. And so I look forward to seeing
God’s grace he shed upon America....the time flying up to the trip, I hope
slowing down once I get there.
Today is a wonderful gift of God, enjoy it fully for what God has provided
in it. As many worship the great creations of man, cars, buildings, houses,
monuments, and the such, others worship God’s creations such as mountains,
beaches, deserts, and the places he put his hand to, yet end up worshipping the
work of his hand rather than the hands that made them. Both close, but yet
miss. As when you seek Jesus first, all things will be added unto you. And it
will always come down to the people you meet at these places that give them
life, that make them accessible, who can relate the testimonies of days passed,
and make it more personal. A few years back we stopped at Mount Rushmore, a
must see for all. A wonderful man created sight, a National Park worthy of its
title, but distant just the same. But when we met Nick Clifford, who had
actually worked on the monument, it became personal. He was history, he had
been there. In his book “Mount Rushmore Carver,” we got background information,
learned about the history from one who made it, and saw how things were, not the
movie version. We talked with him, and heard his tales. His story, history.
It was like being there, and maybe gives more insight into my life than I
realized. We met the man face to face in the book, the man who wrote it. Like
my life in Christ. Face to face, I know the author personally.
I choose to be where the action is, to live the life. Visiting some
friends who have a lovely home, it was our testimonies of God’s blessings that
filled it, we rather be in the picture than looking at it. To be part of it,
rather than hear about it. I want everything from God I can get, blessings we
pray for, but also found that the hardships go along with the ride. And bring
us closer to him, for all things, just not our plans, but his work together for
us. I want the telling of the ride to be as exciting as the ride itself, so I
never want the ride to end. Even if I ride it going less slow, I see more as I
slow down, and the destinations are closer, as each day, each mile, each ride is
more valuable. Our rides start with us wanting to get on the road, the day
cannot arrive too soon, we are bears, or lions in our attitudes, but as the ride
continues we mellow out, we become lambs. And such is my relationship with
Jesus. As I get closer, the me part wears off, and he grows more and more in
me, becoming the focal part of my days. Some concentrate so much on the
beginning and the end they forget we will spend most of our days in the middle.
The in between times, they hurry up and wait, now I just wait. As I
go....
Each day we are closer to heaven than the day before. Today was tomorrow
yesterday. But Jesus is still the same. He never hurries, yet is never late.
He never lags behind, it is us who become impatient. On our set of rules, we
seldom are happy, in the spirit we are blessed all the time. So even though I
may have travelled that 10,000 miles, and may have only 10 more to go, I want to
get the most from every mile I have left. To enjoy the ride with Jesus, with
him, not just having him along. There is a difference. For when we go out with
the lamb, it all becomes worth it. For cars get old and rust, buildings get old
and are razed, roads will come and go. But the Lamb of God will always remain.
He was the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, who became the Lamb of God so we can have
a relationship with the Father in heaven. Guided by his spirit until he
returns. But until then, continue the ride. Time may pass, be a part of it.
You will meet people who will bless your life, get out and be that blessing to
others. Don’t just watch the documentary on TV, be in it. Be in Christ, walk
in the spirit, and get all life has to offer. Memorial Day is coming soon, the
opening day to summer, be there and ready for it. But be there, here and now
too.
When asked “where has the time gone?” be ready with the stories of Jesus
that filled yours. People need to hear them, we need to make them. For by our
testimony, and the blood of the lamb, we are saved. Says so right in the
Bible. Must be true. Jesus did his part, are you doing yours?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com