Meeting with Doug for lunch last week I was glad to see him riding up. But
although we are almost the same age, even in dog years we are close, in
motorcycle years we are far apart. And just by what he was wearing you could
tell, maybe not to the non-rider, who expects all leather, but by his ATGATT,
all the gear, all the time outfit. And in today’s fashion conscious motorcycle
fashion world, he may have looked more like a motorcyclist than I did. Both our
outfits made a statement, but with over 45 years of street riding, I have seen
many fashion changes, and the world of motorcycle fashion evolving, rather more
like a revolution, than an evolution. When I first started riding, it was a
helmet by law, maybe the best $15-20 you could invest, many of us wore Army
surplus fighter jackets, gloves were the leather gardening type, and
construction boots. Only real bikers, known as outlaws, wore leather, as it was
over $30 for a jacket. We learned to dress in layers, heavy wool sweaters, and
ski shops provided the outlet for winter gloves. Some strange BMW types would
wear a baclava when cold, a ski mask made of silk that covered the face and
neck, but mainly it was dressing in layers. Multiple layers when the cold called
for it. For Christmas one year my girlfriend bought me a pair of snow mobile
gloves with gauntlets, one size too big so you could wear gloves underneath.
And at one point I even wore leather jackets, and even leather pants for the
cold, and when in Colorado owned a Wheels of Man riding suit, with bib
overalls. Good for below 32 degrees, at least the ad said so. But today I
still go back to what I first learned, dressing in layers, and some people,
newer riders don’t get it. How can you ride so unprotected? How can they ride
so protected is maybe a better question? If you don’t know how to ride,
clothing won’t save you.
Just as you can tell a Harley rider by his leather, you can tell a BMW
rider by his adventure riding suit. Doug showed up looking like he shopped via
the ads, Shoei helmet, good choice, but with Bluetooth and communicators, riding
boots, and full on adventure jacket, which with all the crash plastic weighed as
much as a leather. And was interested in buying some riding pants to match, I
have new pair, a gift from Triumph he might fit into, but without the BMW label
they aren’t acceptable. All I had on were my Wranglers and a fabric jacket
without all the goodies, he looked more like a contemporary biker than I did.
If riding like beauty is only skin deep, he looked like one pretty, long term
rider, all my miles were hidden under my sweat shirt and Triumph t shirt. He
probably had over $1500 invested between the helmet, gloves and jacket, even
with my new Arai, bought online at a discount, I had less than $500 invested,
leaving money to ride. Did my Adidas running shoes give me away? Maybe I’m not
a real motorcyclist, do the million miles of riding mean anything if the package
they come in isn’t trendy enough? If clothes make the man, what do they make a
motorcyclist? I even own five leather jackets I don’t wear anymore, am I a
closet biker? In a world of $400 Alpinestar gloves, $1200 helmets, and $1500
BMW riding suits, am I just a pauper in the motorcycle world, or does my present
give away my beginning? I have worn out more helmets and jackets than most ever
own, I wear shorty deerskin gloves, and an Arai from a few years ago was worn
out in 150,000 mile, in 3 1/2 years. I guess I can be trendy, or I can ride,
what first attracted you to motorcycles, the ride or the clothes? What attracts
you now.....
I enjoy meeting all kinds of riders, and all kinds of people. You can tell
a lot about their background, and values by their skill set, the way they live.
Works with Christians too, I can tell about how they were discipled, or what
church they grew up in by their attitudes and faith. It is the basis of our
walk, the first teachings, the first fellowship, and the first doctrines that
help mold us into the new creatures we are in Christ. I was raised by reading
the Bible, and 2 Corinthians was a firm foundation. Corinthians, letters
written to a church that had it all, and almost let it slip away, because it
would not let go of its past, and starting allowing sin within its ranks. It
was where I found out I was a cracked pot, but Jesus loved me anyway, that just
because I was saved didn’t mean no trial or temptations, and that forgiveness is
a forever thing. I was taught the application, not just getting an education.
And in times of trials, we fall back on our first teachings, our initial
experience. Both in riding and in our Christian experience. Because I had
dedicated spirit driven teaching, I could identify false teachings, false
beliefs, and false religion. I still might make a mistake or a dozen, but I go
back to what I know, and who I know to be true, Jesus Christ. Which bothers me
when I meet a new Christian, who is all excited about Jesus, but only wants to
brag on his pastor. His church, his external surroundings, but when Jesus is
brought up, especially in public, they shy away. Maybe they really are sharing
their experience, is that all there is to being a Christian? And soon their
depth is revealed, and their ability to learn the truth is clouded. In life and
in Christ. In both I want truth, and I need truth. To live in Christ....
I met a man who claimed to have open heart surgery, really only a vein in
his leg, yet he was proud of his open heart surgery. I have the scar, he
doesn’t, nor has he learned, as I watched him eating fatty meat after having
arterial blockage. And when we found out we went to the same church, he bragged
on the pastor, his pastor. I rather brag on Jesus, and he lost interest. His
experience in Christ was the church, mine goes deeper, I hope yours does
to.
I used to believe a worn out Bible was a sign of a life that wasn’t, but
now I find the testimonies, the stories of Jesus told in your life tell more
about you and me. Just like worn out riding clothes may not mean high miles, it
is the rides that make the difference, and the experience, not the education of
Jesus, it is knowing the man, more than knowing about him. That when tested, we
reveal the depth of our walk. Or lack of it, maybe mired in religion, saved
but not enjoying the riches of it.
I met another man this weekend who was excited about riding the western
states, and asked if I ride much. He should have asked Pastor Z, who claims I
ride more than anyone he knows, but when I started mentioning Maine, the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan, and the Midwest, he wanted to know more. He wanted to
ride these places too, and my testimony got him going. Does your testimony
interest others? Do you share one, or think no one would care to hear? Does it
stop when leaving the church parking lot, or is that where it begins? I want
all I can get from my rides, and all I can get of Jesus. I want more than
knowledge, I want to see the miracles, the saved lives changed, and grow in
Christ. I want my testimony to consist of actions, adding words when needed. I
want to go places in Jesus that I don’t know about, or if I did may not go, but
want to be led by his spirit, not a guilt from a peer group. I want to be the
individual that Christ promised me I would be, and I pray that for you too. So
when having lunch with Doug, and another biker came over to talk, I had no
problem asking him if he wanted to pray with us when our food arrived. And he
did pray with us, we talked, and we made new friends. Being yourself is
probably the hardest thing you will do today, only in Christ will you be all you
can be. He said it first before it became an army tagline.
Christians like bikers come in all shapes and sizes. All walks of life,
with a common denominator, without a motorcycle you will never be a
motorcyclist, and without Jesus you will never be a Christian. Posers, hanger
oners, wanna bes. We know who you are, do you? If clothes make the man, what
do they say about your riding? If church makes you a Christian, what does it
say about Jesus? Share your testimony today by living what and who you are.
The blood of the lamb, and the word of our testimony changes lives, and saves.
Jesus did his part, are you doing yours? ATGATT or ATJATT? Adam and Eve wore
the first leathers.....and were the first to dress in layers. Go back to when
Jesus first became real. Cracked pots and cracked helmets invited. Who can do
all things in Christ Jesus. And unlike helmet laws, Jesus lets us decide. Old
bikers and old Christians, we have a lot to share....care to listen?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com