My dentist friend of 40 years ago once told me of how he came to own his
1937 Packard V-12 Dual Cowl Phaeton. Taking the train from Albuquerque to
Minnesota, with the agreed upon price for the car in cash in a grocery bag,
paper, he looked disheveled after three days when he arrived at the seller’s
door. Who mistook him for a bum, and wouldn’t answer. Until after repeated
poundings, the man finally looked out through a side window and saw Tom dump
thousands of dollars on his porch. It seems money really does talk, as the deal
was consummated and Tom was the new owner. And the hook had been baited and
set, someday I would do the same thing except with a motorcycle. Some 35 years
later the dream came true.
I had set a boundary of a 1500 mile radius, and narrowed it down to early
Honda CB750’s, Z-1’s, or Suzuki’s GS750, the E model of 1978. I had even made a
deal on a 1973 Honda in Albuquerque, but the deal fell through, the pictures
didn’t match the description. An expanded list found a 1981 GS1100 in the Bay
area after a 1978 GS750 deal fell through, an honest seller calling me back the
day before I was going to leave. And then a 1978 GS1000E showed up on
Craigslist in Seattle, and deal was made. But the train ride of 2+ days, and
more than a plane flight found me in the air, and the deal was made, the deal
was finalized, and I was soon on my way home, riding my new old Suzuki. In my
memory I was still in 1978, as was the bike, but too many things had changed in
32 years, and I was just an old guy riding an old bike reliving old dreams that
had come true. But the bike and I soon formed a relationship, and the four day
ride I had planned, 1400 miles was a lot for something this old, turned into two
days as it ran so well. Cruising easily at 80-90 miles per hour, making the
boring ride down I-5 pass quicker, or really not so slowly. And I arrived home
with only the original tach cable failing.
Now this bike was mostly original with Seattle patina from all the rain.
Some light surface rust on the plastic chrome, a new factory seat cover, and it
looked like a new bike. Talking with the parts manager he told me he was amazed
that so many parts were still available from the factory, including the new
handlebars with the Suzuki part number stamped on them. And with just over
20,000 original miles, which I believed to be true, this old girl was a survivor
among its model. It had won two Superbike Championships with Wes Cooley, made
Terry Vance and Byron Hines household names, and most had been hot rodded or
raced to death. To find one still in stock condition was unique, and I have only
seen a few advertised anywhere since. And my dream had become reality, and
10,000 miles and 6 1/2 years later I still get a thrill when I ride it. And it
gathers a crowd of us old guys who remember them back in the day. To the
younger set it is introduced as the grandfather of the GSXR1100, for without the
first one, no ones would follow.
It is still fun to ride, but sitting at Mick’s now as I rode it to pick up
my latest press bike, a 2017 T100. And yes, although things have changed in
almost 40 years, the thrill of riding is still there. New or old, you ride
different, as old brakes take longer, old tires don’t grip as well, and
carbeurated bikes take forever to warm up. Thanks to EPA sealed jetting back
them. It took a while for my son to get used to a bike warming up for a few
miles of riding....but now he knows the thrill of riding when I was his age.
And of today.
It seemed every time I saw Tom, he added details to this story, and I
became more familiar with his trip. I could see him dirty and unshaven after
three days on a train. I could see him banging on the door after walking
through an older upscale neighborhood with a grocery bag under his arm. The
suspicious eyes checking him out, him returning with a smile, but still keeping
the bag tight under his arm. I could even see the door as he described it, and
the man who finally and reluctantly answered it. I could see the money,
hundreds wrapped, laying on the porch, and the paper bag thrown on top. The
story had become real to me, personal, and 45 years later I can still see Tom in
his office coming in and adding details between patients. For although Tom was
a dentist, he wasn’t my dentist, but a partner with Dr. Collard, a dentist with
braces, who I used to ask “is that like trusting a bald barber?” And to me more
than just an old car story....
As kids we are taught Bible stories, a great way to learn the Bible. To
become familiar with Christian truths and to know God. To learn about
principals, and Jesus Christ. But to many they are just stories, no more than
another of Aesop’s Fables, or another bed time story. Sadly as we get older the
stories remain with us, but still the same way we heard them as a kid, with no
interaction from the spirit. We are content that that is all there is to being
a Christian, living a good life, obeying the 10 Commandments, and not spitting
at church. But when a hunger for Christ is initiated by the spirit and we want
more than just religion, we are like Tom banging on the door to be let in.
Except it starts with Jesus knocking at the door of our heart, and wanting to be
let in. And when we let him in, we want all we can get. The deal was made and
we expect him to honor it, such is our prayer life. But we find that although
we have changed, and our interpretation of childhood stories are remembered
differently, Jesus is still the same. And like the price Tom paid for his
Packard, Jesus paid the full price for us, once and for all. We need to change
to Jesus, not change him to our standards. The deal he made at your salvation
is still valid today, as his covenant, the contract with no end date, extends
into heaven. He recognizes us, hears our prayers, but do we hear his answer?
Is he knocking but you don’t recognize him? Is he more than just a Bible
character as some believe, or is he the true son of God incarnate?
Like Tom’s story, the more I heard it, the more intimate it got. I got to
know Tom, his cars, and his family through is stories. The Bible is no
different, read it more, be led by his spirit, and soon it becomes intimate,
personal, and you can share it easier. You want to hear testimonies, to become
part of one, and to live the Bible via Jesus in your life. The dreams you have
he will turn into reality, and when he becomes the desire of your heart, he will
fulfill that desire, at the right time and place. And right motorcycle....for
God loves us and wants to bless us. After seeking him first. We may have other
things, but without that intimate relationship, we never know what a loving God
he is, and never enjoy fully the gift. Such were the thoughts for my 1400 mile
ride on the Suzuki...and it was worth the 32 years of waiting. But don’t put
Jesus off, get to know him today. Salvation is a gift, receive it, believe it,
and live it. Enjoy Jesus, walk in the spirit, and know when he says no, like he
did with my first choices, it is because a better yes is coming. And Jesus is
that better yes! And you get to make the choice.
So that’s my version of Tom and the Packard, you may have your own. We call
them testimonies and each is precious, because it is all about Jesus. Share
what he has done in your life today, bring up stories in conversations without
preaching, Christian bench racing if you will. And see the gospel go forth as
you do. If Jesus can reveal himself through a 39 year old motorcycle, imagine
what he can do for you. Only Jesus....like planes, trains, cars, and
motorcycles...it’s all about the ride. Remember Packard’s tag line, “ask the
man who owns one.” And Jesus is that man. Any questions?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com