I was thinking of the people we meet on the road, and one 48 hour period
riding in Minnesota and Wisconsin came to mind. Nothing special, which is what
made it special, but just meeting people as we go. Both those who ride, and
those who don’t. We had spent a night in Appleton, Minnesota all the streets
are named after veterans who lost their life in war. A small town who gave a
lot, we were heading east and the skies looked bad. Not sure of which way
looked best, we stopped a Minnesota State Patrolman, who gave us good directions
in his thick Minnesota drawl, “dontcha know...” and Theresa commented “I like
your accent,” as we got back on the Tiger. To which he replied, “I like your’s
too...” and I still do. Spending the next night in Red Wing, a cool old town
on the Mississippi, we were down along the Riverwalk, when I heard “hey Mike,”
and turned to see an old neighbor who used to live three houses down. Did I
mention an old bad neighbor, who used to yell at me to “coast my motorcycle past
his house, his kids are sleeping?” while yelling it from their room, while they
were sleeping? The one in every neighborhood we were glad to see move had found
me. Theresa the every friendly talked to him, I sat on my bike with my helmet
on. “Dontcha know...” now I do.
That night in Red Wing they had tornado warnings, heavy rain, and about
eight of us huddled together in a low basement area. Among the huddled were a
retired farmer form Iowa, this was no big thing to him and his wife, they knew
the drill, a young married couple infatuated with our bike and California, and
two people from a group of riders who had made it back to the motel, the others
being stranded in town. His girlfriend who rode her own bike, was bragging of
how she had packed 19 pairs of shoes for their weekend run, which he confirmed,
and how she needed all of them. Her boyfriend, grimacing as the more she spoke
the dumber she sounded, told us of a road we didn’t know of, a beautiful
alternate to the Madison, and the next day under clear skies we rode it. State
Route 33, is a beautiful road that has curves, forests, valleys, old farms, corn
fields, and small towns for over 100 miles. Where we ate lunch in Hillsboro,
the Hungarian capital of Wisconsin. A late breakfast, where we made more new
friends, a couple who had written a book on round barns in the area, and offered
us a tour, and two old men in bib overalls eating together, sort of. Obviously
old friends, they were sitting back to back at different tables, and
occasionally would both lean back at the same time, for a few moments face to
face, to talk to each other. Then get back to their food. But on this Sunday
morning we met a couple, an older couple, who looked like the Grant Wood canvas
“American Gothic.” We left at the same time, and talking on the sidewalk he
explained he was a traveling pastor. With only one church to visit. Seems over
35 years ago he was asked to fill in for the old pastor who retired, sort of
like a trial, and they would vote later if they wanted him to stay. 35 years
later, still no votes were cast, yet, and he wondered jokingly if they liked him
enough to make up their minds? A sweet old couple, the kind you think of when
you hear the word pastor, they love Jesus, they answered the call, and are still
waiting. Gotta love ‘em...dontcha know...
But the main reason for our ride that day was to go to Sharer’s Cycle
Center and Stables in Verona. Where Peter Egan, he of Cycle World and Road
& Track fame, buys his Triumphs. How many barns have you ever seen with
the Triumph painted on the side of them? A place where they raised horses and
motorcycles? We got the deluxe tour, sadly didn’t get to meet Lial the owner,
who died shortly after, but saw how it is done the way it had been done for
generations. Just folk, meeting and talking. Sharing and listening.
Benchracing. Making new friends. Who become old ones. Many faces with names
forgotten, but the memories still fresh. A museum of motorcycles, selling new
Triumphs. While a cat followed us around. And the service manager was back in a
shed fixing a washer. Just guys who loved motorcycles, rather motorcycling,
without all the hoopla of mega dealerships today. We missed Peter that day too,
he had been in earlier....and looking back a 48 hour period where we met new
friends, shared tales of life and the road, and got to see the real meaning of
Jesus when he said “as you go preach the gospel.” Not one Bible was cracked
open, no scripture shared, we did it by our actions. With the exception of one
couple, an audience of many who might never be seen church, we took the church
to them. Like Jesus said to. Random conversations not written on laptops,
where they words came from the heart.
To many whose only Christian experience is church, we find Jesus spent most
of his time on the road. Taking the gospel to them, sharing the word, feeding
them, greeting them, healing them and making contact one on one. He made it
personal, he took the love of his father to them. Who hasn’t had a bad time in
church, and evangelizing isn’t inviting someone to church, it is living your
life as a reflection of Jesus Christ in you. Being guided by his spirit, and as
the Greek text reflects an “as you go” message, you never know who you will meet
and bless, or be blessed by. But God does, from diners after church to hanging
out at the bike shop. From policemen giving directions, to huddling together in
the midst of a storm, Jesus is always with us. But yet many behave like the
disciples in the storm, not remembering that when Jesus is in your boat, it will
not sink, and the storm will pass. So we panic in a panic situation, making it
worse. Then repent after, and miss a blessing. Or two.
So as you go today, be the Bible or rather the gospel of Jesus Christ that
the world needs to see. Show love, compassion, and listen. You may be on the
road in the same place for 35 years, temporarily, or spending a night in from
the storm. We never know what lies ahead, or who lies ahead, but we know that
Jesus is always with us, and there will always be someone who needs to be
blessed, or wants to bless you. Be that light, without the high beams blinding
them, and show his love by living it. We have a sign in our home “live your
life in such a way that those who don’t know God will get to know God by knowing
you.” That’s taking the gospel to a lost and dying world. Just like Jesus
did. And what better place to do that than on the road, on your motorcycle with
the one you love. Just some random conversations from the road...with Jesus.
Who makes all the difference...dontcha know....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com