If you were a teen in 1969 and visited the Aquarian Arts Festival, aka
Woodstock, you know it made an impact on our lives. The late sixties were
turbulent, with war protests, peace marches that were anything but peaceful, and
a silent majority awakening over a loud and angry generation. Woodstock was
many things, among them a concert of music, that turned into a drugfest, and
left its mark physically, philosophically, and emotionally on history. I was
too young for Woodstock, but in 1973 bought my ticket for Summer Jam-The
Dead,The Band, and The Allman Brothers in Watkins Glen. With an atmosphere that
was overwhelming, scary, dangerous, and anything but festive. Like putting 10
pounds of sand in a five pound bag, something has to give, riding to and through
Watkins Glen left us with the impression we rather ride than fight the crowds.
We feared for our bikes, our safety, and our sanity, of course it rained, and
hungry and tired we sought a solution to both hunger and shelter. No food
anywhere, it after midnight when we arrived, so we kept going, there just has to
be a place of rest somewhere. And for a few short minutes we found refuge on
the front porch of a tourist cabin, in a the thicket of woods. Trying to
destress, we had ridden over 300 miles after work to get there, in the rain, and
the traffic was horrible. Two lane roads that had become parking lots, and even
when we stopped to help a fellow BMW rider fix his flat, as we sat and rested
before he reinstalled it back on the bike, a car cut through where we were
sitting, almost hitting us with no concern but for themselves, and running over
his wheel, bending it into a V shape, damaged and useless. Both him and his
wheel. If this was the summer of love revisited, we wanted nothing of it, and
decided to push on, sleeping after being chased off the front porch we had found
temporary shelter on.
Now I am not a deadhead, or even been to a Grateful Dead concert, but I
have seen the Grateful Dead. While resting on the porch, a helicopter landed,
and the band got out, we exchanged hellos as they walked past and we were
escorted from the cabin, which was reserved for them. I came, I saw, and I was
conquered. And swore no event was worth the ride, the rain, or the hassles of
going to....until October last. The year 47AW, after Woodstock brought cars and
motorcycles to Pismo Beach, The Race of Gentlemen, and we attended.
Volunteering to work the ticket booth, we soon took it over and helped run it,
in a pouring down rain, that seemed would never end. Arriving early for our 8
am start, the rain kept the course closed and we opened after 11, three hours
late. Yet over 12,000 people attended after waiting in the rain, standing and
cold, Californians don’t own umbrellas, and then onto a race shortened day, from
two days to only a few hours. The course flooded, the tide washed it away and
left a lagoon, and the stands were unusable. But the weather didn’t dampen the
racers, or any attending, we all had fun, and I can say I was there, I have the
pictures and the shirts to prove it. And I cannot wait for next year if they
can pull it off, one delay was for the State Parks Commission to check the beach
for sand crabs and sea turtles, who were smarter than the state and found safety
elsewhere. Only in California...
But despite the rain, the mud, the over flowing parking lot, and having to
wait hours only to be canceled, we only saw one jerk in the crowd, all others
were excited and happy to attend, they wanted to see the race, the sights and
smells, and be a part of the day. And we all were, maybe not quite the crowd of
Woodstock, not the drugs or free love atmosphere, but a group of people who
showed up despite the conditions, and we all had a real good time. And will be
back....
How many of us would stand all day to get a glimpse of Jesus? How many
would meet secretly under threat of persecution or death to have church? How
many complain “it’s too hot, or it’s too cold,” “someone is in my seat,” or
complain about the music? Yet brag about what great Christians they are, and
how they sacrificed a morning for God. How important is your new dress, showing
off a new car, or bragging about what you have done, that you would put it ahead
of Jesus and worshipping him? Yet our church of today is one based on
convenience, from starting times to what programs, procedures, processes, and
things can be done for me, all in the name of Christ. How many of us would risk
death as some do in North Korea, China, India, and many countries throughout the
world to have church? Would you meet secretly as the apostles many times had to
for fear of retribution, just for being a Christian, and claiming Jesus as
Lord? Would you let the spirit guide you and your pastor, who having no Bible
is entrusted with one page from Acts, and for over twenty years is the only
Bible he has to preach from, and still hasn’t gone as far as using both sides?
Or do you discuss publicly how the King James is the only book, knowing the
word, just not having it in you? Yet fellow Christians around the world are
subject to persecution we cannot imagine, yet we complain the loudest.
47 years after Woodstock have we learned anything about our desires for
God? What makes thousands willing to stand in the mud for days to hear music,
or thousands in the rain and wind to watch cars and motorcycles race? If we can
put ourselves out for our desires, why can’t we do the same for God’s desires?
God’s will, his desire is for us to know Jesus. They talk of love at
Woodstock, love of racing, but do we talk of love for God? Better yet do we
show it? Do we have the supernatural love, agape that God has for us for
others? God’s love is simple, a commitment of will to cherish and uphold
another person. It is a decision you make to treat another person with concern
and care, thoughtfulness and to work for their best interests. And this love is
not difficult if we are aware of how much he loved us. Sending Jesus, redeeming
and forgiving us when we were unlovable. And once you are aware of God’s love,
this supernatural quality called love is easy.
The Race of Gentlemen lost money this year, but it was more than the money
that may keep them away. California’s laws, rules, fees and taxes are unending,
and so demanding it is easier to look elsewhere or quit altogether. Don’t give
up on Jesus the same way, step out of legalism and into the spirit, let his love
guide your decisions, putting everyone else above you and your needs. Share an
umbrella in the rain, give up a parking place for someone else, let a person
with one item get in front of your basket of goodies. I learned all about
crowds at Watkins Glen and never went back, I saw a different crowd at Pismo for
TROG, I hope they come back. I was part of that crowd, I hope to be again.
Today you will have the chance to share Jesus with someone, as St. Francis of
Assisi advised, “preach the word daily, and if needed use words.” Worked at
TROG, if car and bike guys can get it, why can’t we as a church?
It has been said of the sixties and Woodstock if you remember them you
probably weren’t there. Don’t let it be said of your walk with Jesus. Remember
the rain falls on both the just and the unjust, 47 years after Woodstock are we
be able to tell the difference? Can you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com