Last year we were down to six motorcycles with over a total of 400,000
miles on them. Any or all could be ridden daily and were, with mileages ranging
from over 100,000 to just below 30,000. Cosmetically they all looked good, not
representative of the mileage or riding they had endured, and any one would
happily take me on a ride cross country. You see we ride’ em and not hide‘ em
like so many do, and when someone tells me they own a motorcycle, we can say we
ride one. Which brings up a contrast, that I cannot say is good or bad, but
just is. As we travel we get to see many great local museums, and also my
favorite, The Barber Motorsport Museum outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Where
over 1000 motorcycles are on display, but can be ready to ride in just an hour.
We need museums like this to preserve the history, but I rather be out making
history than reading about it. At the other end of the spectrum was the
celebration of Cannonball Baker’s first transcontinental ride across the USA in
1915. To participate you must ride a bike 1915 or older. A true testimony to
not hiding ‘em, and at The Race of Gentleman in Pismo Beach last month almost a
dozen showed up, in the pouring down rain, with a few competing on the beach.
What fool would ride a 100 year old bike cross country or race it on the beach?
Their answer, what kind of fool wouldn’t? And I agree.
Back in August I had a 2017 Triumph Tiger XCX, and rode it 1200 miles in
three days. No big deal, but one afternoon was spent at Carmel, at the end of
the Pebble Beach Tour D’Elegance, where owners drove their collector cars, many
one offs or rare, and many worth 7+ figures out on the road for 50 miles. The
bench racing after, the excitement and the attitude was much different than I
had seen in any museum, these guys and gals were out enjoying their cars as they
were designed for, to be driven. Stone chips, patina, worn leather, dripping
oil, and the smell of old cars permeated the air, so far afield from the
pristine air conditioned atmosphere of so many museums, where fingerprints set
off an alarm, and patina is limited to the dust on the tires. The hide ‘em
side, which we need for historical, I much prefer the ride ‘em side, and the
memories yet to be made.
And so we ride, and go places, see things, meet people, and get to see
America on a wider screen than the one on your phone or laptop. How many have
seen a 1937 Packard Dual Cowl Phaeton, but how many have smelled the old car
smell in it, the oil and grease smell under the hood? Heard the gears whine, or
sat on crushed velour, next to a flower in the vase? Pictures alone cannot
capture the mood, there is nothing like being there, nothing like being part of
the ride. And even the pictures we take don’t tell the whole story. They don’t
capture the older ladies sitting in the next booth and their conversation, the
old men telling the same stories they have for decades, or the adjusting of the
points, adding the oil, or tightening the fan belts. It is a hands on
experience that many are deprived of, and like an old girl friends couch, oh the
stories these cars and bikes could tell if they could talk.
A sign outside when leaving a church parking lot advised “YOU ARE ABOUT TO
ENTER YOUR MISSION FIELD.” These guys got it, that you must go out and live
your life in the world bringing the light of the Lord via the gospel of Jesus
Christ. Rather than support a missions program, they were the mission program,
and we are all called to it. Think of how you heard about Jesus, for most of us
it was from friends, mine was running on the beach in Venice one night. Yet too
many churches evangelistic arm is having the faithful invite people to church
and let the pastor save them. They never get out and see Jesus in action, never
get to live what they were taught. They are like the museum pieces gathering
dust, getting old and wearing out too soon from non-use. You see people just
like cars and motorcycles need to exercised so the gaskets don’t leak. Tires go
flat when not driven on, moisture forms rust when parts don’t move, and soon the
bikes and cars wear out faster from non-use. High mileage is not a bad thing in
riding, the testimonies are made when out on the road, how many want to hear
about your afternoon in front of the TV? Or the computer? Is there a ministry
in Starbucks among the caffeine addicted? Think about it, but while out
riding.
Following someone on Facebook is not the same as being there. Instagram
may provide a moment, being there provides the memories. Like after leaving
Carmel, and taking back roads and finally going down SR 25 like I have dozens of
times. And having 7 Bugatti Veyrons with a Bentley mixed in pass me. How many
have ever seen one, maybe on TV, yet I saw these 7 guys out driving their cars
for the purpose it was designed for. Probably over $20 million worth of
cars....No picture even if I had the chance to take one would have done that
moment justice. How many moments with God are you missing by not getting out
and living? If a movie was made of your life would you want to watch it? Or
would it only be snapshots? Is your relationship with Jesus an Instagram
moment, or in the library of Jesus where all the books written, yours included
could never find a library so big to contain them? Is the seat of your pants
wearing out faster than the soles of your shoes? The tires on your car? The
brakes on your motorcycle? You don’t know what you are missing until you quit
hiding and start riding. Or like a cartoon on our refrigerator says “would you
rather be riding in Grandpa’s SUV or Grandma’s boring motorcycle?”
So get out and live. Enjoy all the blessings God has for you, see as much
of his creation as you can. Take the long way home, drive through a
neighborhood you never have before, pick a road and see where it goes. Fill the
tank with gas and the spirit, and get to know Jesus in a way that is beyond
words. Worn pedal pads, worn paint on the tanks where your knees hit, worn out
grips, and high miles are a badge of honor. They got that way by being used,
the same as testimonies, memories, blessings, and miracles are seen when out
living for Christ. These things shall follow them that believe we are told in
scripture, are you receiving more post cards than you are sending? How long has
it been since you left the city behind, and smelled the orange blossoms in
bloom, ridden through corn fields higher than you can see, or rode a road hoping
you had enough gas to get back? Ride with Jesus, don’t hide ‘em and enjoy the
blessings he has for you.
Lastly as the miles and rides are accumulated, you get familiar with your
ride. You know the sounds, the smells, and a relationship is formed. Maybe
that is why Jesus spent his life on the road, for relationships are what he is
all about. How familiar are you with is voice, or do you have to study each
time to see if it really him? Is his word written on your heart or your i-pad?
Why is it he advises us to get out and spread the word, and why are you sitting
doing nothing? Are you living or giving to missions?
What would your motorcycle say about you if it could talk? Are you
listening? Can you hear him now? The spirit is willing, are you? Old cars
like old people don’t get worn out from use, but from sitting. The best ride
you ever take could be the next one, hiding or riding? I’m still riding....and
you? You don’t quit riding because you got old, you get old when you quit
riding.
love with compasson,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com