Looking back, I guess those of us who rode to high school were rebels. The
Viet Nam War was still going, it was still 5 years from Saigon becoming Ho Chi
Min City, mini skirts were in, so were maxis, Chevy vs. Ford still ruled the
sales race, and Honda was in its third year of its CB 750. Harley was a leisure
activity of AMF, and BSA was gone, no mega dealers yet, and if you rode, you
still were looked down on. At least by your parents, but to the girls....a
different story. A few of us rode, maybe 6-7 every day in the spring, we even
started parking our bikes in a space just for us, and from Sportster to Yamaha
100, we had the fever. We were sticking our faces in the wind every chance we
got, some would protest the war, some got high, the stylish group went to the
Island to drink as the law there was 18, but for the rest of us it was
motorcycles. Some had fast girls and cars, we had faster girls and faster
motorcycles....while the Grateful Dead reminded us “of what a long strange trip
it has been...” and ours was only beginning.
But even with almost every bike on the road a Honda, read old Honda ads,
they never referred to them as motorcycles, thanks to the Harley image from The
Wild One, and so we rode Hondas. At least to the uninitiated, but within those
of us who rode, there was a pecking order. With the engine size the main
criteria, but the electric leg coming in second. Real men kick started their
bikes, on Triumphs it was a love song you hoped ended in making love, as you
tickled the carbs, kicked through to release the clutch and find TDC, then
jumped down to make it go. Usually on the first or second try, and to those
watching the when the bike rumbled to life, that was manhood. But on the 1000cc
Sporty, that took real men, men so tough they only wore leather, who smoked
Chesterfields hidden in their short sleeve t-shirts, and smelled of grease and
oil. A big bike, a size we all dreamt of riding one day, suddenly our 350 cc’s
of Honda were kid’s bike, our push button electric leg a sign of childhood,
until the light turned green. And away we went....
While the old bikes vibrated and leaked oil, ours ran smooth, were very
quick and quiet. They couldn’t shake us, the Triumph lost some of us in the
curves, the Harley after 80 ate our lunch, but up till then, we ran neck to neck
with them. Leaving behind the parking lot status of cool, when the light
changed, so did the attitude. When the contest for cool changed, when the
criteria was speed rather than being seen, when the audience at 80 was much
different than the one parked, a new rebel was born. A division in our ranks,
cruising vs. racing, and the two would never meet again. One group of rebels
becoming two, bad boys vs. fast boys, finally defined by the girls who rode with
us, or dreamed of it. You might have met the nicest people on a Honda, one ride
changed all that. Such were the rebels of my high school back then.....
We were “one nation under God,” but the dividing line became what you
rode. Sadly a lesson learned from religion. Our town was broken down as
Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish, with each a different belief system, yet
honoring the same God. Just different means to that, some historical, some
hysterical, and some not even worship at all. We watched as the Catholic kids
didn’t eat meat on Fridays, not even served in our cafeteria, the Lutherans and
Baptists celebrated Lent, and the Jewish kids skipped out on Christmas. All met
in separate buildings, like our bike dealers did, and as a kid I never
understood all the rules that made the difference. Like those of us who rode,
we all liked to ride, we just did it differently. But when it came to religion,
no one escaped unscathed, as each rule made one denomination better than the
other, more religious, but less loving. And even then, we were all about love,
even if it was all about sex. We knew there was more to life and love, but we
didn’t find it in church. Some did, but the rest of us wanted more....
With many of us turning to Jesus, which was real rebellion. But really
following a tone set 2000 years ago, when Jesus challenged the religious systems
of the day. The old time religion that was good enough for previous generations
didn’t make it now. We sought truth, the truth, and the spirit pointed us to
Jesus, who reunited us with his father in heaven. Some of the people he
reunited were not the nicest people you met on Hondas, Harley types, scooter
types came too. Hippies, red necks, and even nerdy kids were being called, and
becoming rebels. Suddenly groups that would never have anything to do with each
other were meeting, sharing Jesus, loving each other. To our own amazement, and
the amazement of others. This Jesus was real, freed us from religion, united us
in the spirit. Ramblers and Sportsters were found parked next to each other,
previous loose girls were finding respect, we got high on Jesus instead, and our
worlds, the world was changing. The same spirit that changed Nicodemus, that
brought the 12 disciples together was uniting us. We had been so busy being
rebellious we never considered rebelling against sin. Or turning to God. Jesus
changed all that, 2000 years ago, 45 years ago, and is still changing hearts and
lives today. Rebels then, rebels now.
Think you are a rebel because you ride a black V-twin? Wear leather and
denim? Sorry. Talk tough and think Christians are weak. Sorry. Brag on
conquests yet left unsatisfied. Sorry. It is only when you come to Christ you
are really a rebel, you go against sin in all forms, from religion to society.
When you learn to love as Jesus loves you, then do you truly become a rebel.
Some still hide in pews and pulpits, some still attend church thinking that will
purify them, but inside still are not at peace. Take a break from religion,
follow the original rebel, and find love without bounds, peace without
description, joy beyond feelings. Rebel from religion and cling to Jesus, and
get ready to get a bad rap. A small group of us who rode in high school were
considered rebels and misunderstood. Long before the motorcycle crowd espoused
“let those who ride decide,” Jesus was sending the same message. It is your
decision, how much of a rebel are you? Rebellious enough to turn to Jesus?
Tough enough to become a Christian? Bright enough to see the light? Or still
seeking while others have found? The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.
Real rebels, saved rebels make it to heaven. Jesus separates the good from
the bad. Once defined by what we rode, we now are defined by who we serve.
Jesus Christ was a rebel to the end, to his death on the cross, something no
religious person would do for anyone. Jesus died so we could live, religion
lives on only because there are rebels yet called but not changed. Jesus lets
you choose, religion tells you what to do. Now what kind of an honorable rebel
would be told what to do? Rebels then, rebels now, and forever...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com