Penny and I were both patients of Gerald’s, and when he introduced us, he
mentioned I rode a BMW. So did she, so we set a time to go riding, and this All
American cheerleader type was going to take me for a ride. We were going to
ride S10, the old name for SR14 south that the locals still called by its old
name. I was told she rode fast, and I had that reputation, and when she arrived
in her pink leather riding suit, with her blond pony tail out the back, I
wondered what kind of ride I was in for. Barbie on a motorcycle? I led out
I-40 east, and just before the exit she passed me, and for the next two hours I
chased her, the only view her pony tail in the wind as I tried to keep up. She
could ride, and I learned a few things about riding, pony tails, and riding new
roads. As we talked at lunch she loved to ride, she just happened to be
beautiful, and was tired of fast guys looking down at her because she was a
girl. Once over the wounded ego, when asked “how did it feel to be beat by a
girl?” my answer was “You’ll never know,” and with a smile that kept them
wondering. If you ever come up on a pink leather suit with a blond pony tail
look inside the helmet, and if it is Penny, let her lead, and hang on for the
ride of your life.
We never knew his name, he was the dishwasher at the A&W next to the
Honda shop in Ft. Lauderdale. The kind of guy who begs you to put a “kick me”
sign on his back, we came to respect him after we saw the old Honda 185 with a
Windjammer fairing was his. At first picking on his choice of bike, 185cc
right, with a Windjammer? What kind of sissy rides like that? But as we got to
know him, we found out he rode like we wished we could, big bikes scared him,
and his little 185 touring bike had taken him to Alaska last summer. He had
ridden places across the US of A on it taking three weeks off each summer, when
it is brutally hot in Florida, and saw the US by bike. You see it isn’t the
size of the bike, but the size of the heart of the rider.....To some just a
dishwasher, to us a new hero.
We were up on Skyline Drive in Virginia one Sunday morning early, when we
met a man at a rest stop with a Sprint ST like ours, except blue. After talking
bikes for awhile, he told us he lived nearby, and rode this road regularly, and
if we followed him he would show it to us. How do you say no to that, and for
the next 45 minutes rode faster and farther than I ever dreamed on a perfectly
designed road for a motorcycle. He waved and got off, home to do chores, we
rode on. This break in our trip meant a lot to us, I hope it did to him. Never
will Skyline Drive be the same, no matter how many times I ride it. And I could
say I kept up with him....until he got off and we kept going , which was really
his dream. Two riders converge, with only motorcycles in common....what else
needs to be said.
I was hopelessly lost but not out of gas in Western Tennessee, when I met a
black guy on a chopped CB750, wearing a helmet with a spike on top. “Ever ride
the land Between the Lakes? he asked, knowing I was not from around there.
When I nodded no, he offered to show me the best roads there on his lunch hour,
and until he had to go back to work, a wave were our final words, getting lost
was the best part of my ride that day, or on the trip. Who would’ve thought
this chopper pilot could handle his bike like a sport bike, and take time from
his lunch to escort me? Again, another guy who loves to ride, don’t be mislead
by what he rides. For it is the road that brings us together, not brand
loyalty. Not engine size, sex, or careers. When the road calls, the only
answer is “give me a full tank and time to ride.”
While riding yesterday putting miles on a 2017 T100, I passed some Mormon
kids on a street corner with guitars singing Christmas caroles. My first
thought was these guys deny the deity of Jesus, and then I saw their worship,
openly,and rather than trying to convert me or hand me some Mormon jive, they
were worshipping Jesus. And I was reminded how he reveals himself to us, and
changes our lives. Some would stop and argue...later I wished I had stopped and
sang along with them. They were enjoying the joy of Christmas....Jesus now,
doctrine later. But how many of us are established enough in Jesus, who rely on
his spirit to guide us? We sing about being a bond slave, a servant, but are we
truly followers? How dedicated are we? Are we established in the gospel, so
walking in him that we show love first, rather than brag on our superior
education? Church or pastor? Our denomination? How much time we spend in the
word, or at Bible studies? What is our true character in Christ?
There was a time when I was intimidated by such people, they had to be
better Christians, look at their witness. But just like one ride with Penny, or
listening to a dishwasher tell of his rides, I find we each have much to say
about Jesus in our lives, and we can encourage rather than discourage by
listening and keeping Jesus the main thing. When we are firmly established in
Christ, we know we are a work in process, and that he who began a good work in
me will be faithful to complete it, that it is the spirit that provides the
growth, we cannot do it alone. We come by faith, grow by obedience, but when we
walk in trust, then we see the side of Jesus too many miss. I tire of the
excuse “I’m waiting on God,” when he has already given you the answer, you just
don’t like it. What you are doing is delaying, telling God your ideas are
better. Who has known his mind that he should counsel him? Listen to your
prayers, how would you answer them? Yet God sends people into our lives, like
my riding friends above, to remind us of how much he loves us, and wants to
bless us. And how we can bless each other. I wasn’t intimidated by Penny, and
she felt safe with me, we both ride. The dishwasher suddenly had some cool
friends, and we found he was even cooler, way beyond us. Ride with a black guy
on a Honda Chopper? In a place you had never been? I’ll bet he had as much fun
showing off his ride and road, maybe more. Each person was established in how
they rode and who they were on two wheels. How secure are you in your
relationship with Jesus Christ?
Would you share a meal with a homeless person? Ask a rich person to come
over to your house? Would you let an ex-con watch your house while you went
off? Do you trust God enough to share your love in actions rather than words?
Are you spirit led, church led, ego led, or just out there? Honestly, who does
your life say Jesus is? You may be surprised, as one Sunday afternoon my friend
Glen, who was totally immersed in the Harley lifestyle wanted to ride one of my
sport bikes. As I chased him on his bike, we came upon a Vago on the side of
the road, Glen automatically slowed down to help, and the Vago waved him one.
But when I pulled over on Glen’s Harley the guy would visit with me, and thanked
me for stopping, me who makes fun of Harleys on one, go figure. Are we like the
Vago judging based on appearance, or are we secure in Jesus that whatever or
whoever he brings into our lives he will be faithful to complete?
Jesus is the bottomless tank, that day riding that never ends, a new road
to ride, the time to ride them all. With Jesus, the friend who always shows up
on time. Invite him on your next ride, even if it is just to get you through
the day. But first ....there’s this road I know....let’s ride. You never know
who you will meet along the way....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com