At age 33 we moved west to California and started our life anew. I
interviewed at a few jobs, was offered a position by all, and took the highest
paying one, even though I wasn’t sure what I was to be selling. It turned out to
be automotive hardware and supplies, and it was the right move, as it led to
many connections, friends, experiences, and memories over the years. And the
first year I won a trip to Cancun with my wife, and we were excited-all expenses
paid, I could handle that. So off we went to hook up with others from around
the US in Cancun, and six of us locally flew out of San Diego, and we couldn’t
wait to get to Cancun. But wait is what we ended up doing...why do you need to
experience trials to find patience is a virtue?
We were about an hour out and over the Salton Sea, when we noticed fuel
being dumped, and the captain came on, “we have a problem, we are going back to
San Diego. We have to dump fuel so we are light enough to land...” OK, it was
only desert, only diesel fuel, it was only the plane we were on, and you don’t
pull over in midflight in the air. But we made it back safe, shaken and
stirred, and later we were on another plane bound for Dallas, our next
destination. Where a plane had crashed the week before, and its eerie burned
out fuselage was still next to the runway, welcoming us to Dallas. I was glad
to get my feet on the ground, now do you get it why I say I rather ride? And
they call it air safety? But due to the time delay, we would be rerouted to
Mexico City, closer but not close enough. We were ready for the white beaches
in the pictures we were shown, not another airport!
We landed in Mexico City at 3am, and were rushed off to a hotel, paid for
by the airline. The taxi ride is a story in itself, two of the women riding on
the back seat floor, maybe air travel is safer. And with no Spanish speakers on
board except for the cabbie, my Spanglish didn’t cut it, I know it cost us too
much, but we made it, and even though up for almost 24 hours, we were too wired
to sleep. And hungry, eating the peanuts and sodas from the mini bar. And no
sleep...and two hours later they called for us, back to the airport, and finally
to Cancun. Where we could see the effects of a recent hurricane, and how salt
water kills everything green it touches, such desolation. With one more air
surprise, this time when landing. Seems the runway is too short for the plane
we were on, so while still braking, it does a 90 degree right turn to avoid
going off the runway and into the jungle. And the ground never felt so good,
except for the tropical humidity, which hit us like a wave... and soon we were
at the beach, exhausted, tired, worn out, hungry, and thirsty. What a time for
a Big Mac attack. But we made it, and for the next 5 days only one more plane
flight before flying home....the next prizes I would ever win that involved
flying, I took the cash equivalent instead. And they call that a vacation? I
wonder what second prize was?
Maybe it was the jail food, maybe too many nights incarcerated, or maybe
Paul was really crazy, but from jail he writes to the Romans, to glory in our
sufferings. He obviously never flew. Looking back we can always see the hand
of God, but the during, and not knowing when it will end, is different. Now if
that was the only statement, and from anyone else, we might gloss it over as the
words of a masochist, but Paul knew Jesus. And the fruit of the spirit. So he
goes on to write suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and
character hope. And hope does not put us to shame. And looking back, I can
honestly say it is true, yet in the midst of the trial, I wondered. No one
likes to suffer, we all look for the easy way out, a quickie Nirvana, not
thinking about anyone else but ourselves. But in the trials we see Jesus and
his spirit guiding us, telling us to have patience, to persevere, to hang on.
That there has to be an end to it, how much patience do I need to learn, how
much character do I really need? But we see how suffering produces, rather than
reduces something, as we know from our trials. And when guided by the spirit,
we can look back and see how God was with us, even while dumping fuel, or riding
in the back seat floor of a cab. It produces a steadiness in us, as we grow
closer to God. Then character, who we are in a situation, not our Facebook page
is revealed. And our true walk with God is exposed. Humbling, but better than
humiliating. In that character we find a strength we didn’t know we had, and we
become a reliable person, sometimes kicking and screaming along the way, but
remember we are talking growth, maturity will come with it later. And that
gives us hope, which no matter how bad things are, the spirit gives us. Faith,
hope, and love 1 Corinthians 13 tells us in the love chapter, but the greatest
is love. And since God is love, we can be sure faith and hope are his for us
also. Even at 30,000 feet, he is still with us. And it is in this hope
produced in us that we become more compassionate and loving. That we are being
made over in the image of his son, stronger. wiser, purer, and more patient. We
see three truths revealed, you cannot have patience right now, it can be
fleeting, you cannot brag about how humble you are, and you must screw up to get
mercy. While all the time God is building something in us that will reveal his
character through us.
There is no place to pull over in midflight, but knowing God is always with
us should encourage us. Just as Paul says, even though he never flew, never
rode a motorcycle, or rode a skateboard. He only endured beatings, 39 lashes
many times, and losing everything for Christ. But in it was gaining a character
we all look to today. I had won a prize, a trip to Cancun, it is only looking
back now I can see the real prize was in the trials along the way, where we got
closer to Jesus. Where our character was built and tested, and hope produced
and endured. But you say, “that’s not natural to rejoice in our suffering?”
And you would be right, it’s supernatural! Proving God is still God no matter
where you are, but aren’t you glad he rides motorcycles too? Where I have met
some real characters....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com