Now that it will be unofficially fall this Sunday when we go back to
Standard Time, and our clocks fall back, many a rider has been taking time to
store their motorcycle for the winter months. Moving into my 45th winter as an
owner/rider, there has been only one year I had to put it away for the winter,
living at 8300’ in the Rockies, with over 500” of snow on the ground. Ever the
most hard core must agree I couldn’t or shouldn’t be riding in that, plus with
below zero temps, a warm fire reading about next years trip was in order.
Survival of the fittest. Living now in So Cal has changed my perspective on
winter, I still ride every day, except in the rain, too many who don’t know how
to drive in it, and it takes too long to clean up the bike after-vanity, pure
vanity. But for that one winter I made preparations, simple but effective, for
hibernation from riding.
Before trickle chargers, it gave me an excuse to go down to the lower level
and start in up, twist the throttle, sit on it and listen to the header. A song
of summer. A 1975 Z-1, after removing the bed sheets, we were poor and used
what was available, I’d start it and for the next 15 minutes let it idle into
the winter air. Promising myself that someday I would ride again, as I looked
at the snow piled up to second story windows. What was I thinking when I moved
there? But soon it was back to a fire lit and heated cabin, even sitting on a
bike in zero weather is cold, and back to dreaming. Soon, but never soon enough
the snow would begin to melt, the roads become clear and dry, and spring would
be here, just never soon enough. Maybe more than anything that was the deciding
factor to move south, it would take me another seven years before we loaded up
the truck and I moved to Beverly-Escondido, that is....
We have become weather wusses here, I know guys who when it gets below 60F
won’t ride due to the cold. At 50F they begin to get frostbite, and follow the
procedure I did in Colorado. But real riders, not just “I have a Harley, too”
guys ride, including many who ride HD’s. Behind the barn door fairing of Gold
Wings and Ultras, it is quite warm, a being a passenger on the back of an Ultra
gets you extra heat. I am not a windshield kind of guy, but one press bike, a
new Trophy SE with one, made me lean in that direction, no pun intended, after
one chilly ride in the low 50’s in only a t-shirt. It was actually warm behind
there, I’ll just go the dressing in layers route, thanks. But it keeps them
riding, even in weather challenged San Diego. But still cold and rain can be
relative, and many a winter afternoon is spent in the garage waxing, adjusting,
or just spending time with the bikes. Or at the table, reading maps, no GPS
here, real men use folding maps, and dreaming of the trips to come. A few days
in the spring, being ready for a Santa Ana in February, the bike ready to go, we
are. Like the Boy Scout motto of “be prepared, “ we are, and with no snow to
fight or shovel, it seems the riding never stops. Maybe that is why the places
we ride to look so good when we do, the rain and snow brings out the green and
foliage, while we continue on in shades of brown. But brown is a color too, and
for the added days to ride, it is the most beautiful color a rider can
find.
If you ride, you know of what I speak. If not, you may not understand, or
think I am nuts, possible, or settle back in your heated house, thermostat set
at 72, sweater and Uggs on and battle the winter months here. Too often we
speak the truth, but have no consideration of our audience. Working with
immature Christians, I spend a lot of time on the basics of Christianity and who
Jesus is and why he came. Simple stuff, but so deep if you don’t know him, yet
we can get very deep on a very simple premise. And when trying to explain how
it is personal, sometimes I cannot find the words. After years of being told
abut the freedom in Christ, and about making it personal, religion has stolen
most of it, or tried to. “You are set free in Jesus, now here is what we
believe, and you need too also.” And soon a cold wind enters the heart, one
colder than any winter storm in the Rockies. “If we are free, why do we need
rules?” Isn’t grace enough, isn’t that what we were taught, isn’t that what the
Bible says? And the excuses begin...
Soon the answerer begins to sound like a fair weather rider, too this, too
that, you need rules, you need to follow the denominational line, you need
everything but Jesus, he gets put away for the nice days. And when winter sets
into a heart, it can be a long time until it thaws out. Bad doctrine can come
form anywhere or anyone. As a young Christian, a wacky pastor, he really was,
told me I was not bearing fruit, and so I wasn’t saved, as per his
denomination. For over a year I fought it, until God showed me by his spirit
the truth, backed it up in scripture and set me free. And I remain free almost
40 years later!
We are told we are new creatures in Christ, a heaven bound creature still
in human form. We still live in a fallen world, we still have temptations, and
we still need Jesus. It isn’t salvation and that’s it, to be discipled in
Jesus, to be led by his spirit, to trust and obey God, it takes participation.
Some sit out the winter months complaining, but God is alive and well and just
as active in them. No storm can separate us from him. We can either remember
the past when we were wretched sinners, or enjoy today the fact we aren’t, and
anticipate the future in heaven. We can walk in the spirit, or be bogged down
by the law. Religion does not set us free, only Jesus!
So as winter begins to set in, as we set back the clocks, as we change our
wardrobe for winter, be assured Jesus never changes. In the storms, or in the
sunny days, he is the same. And he wants us to enjoy those days, hot or cold.
To seek him and not the conditions, he set us free for sin and the bondage of
it, in him we find total freedom. Winter is no time to hang him up, but rather
a time to draw closer, to enjoy each day more, to seek him, for riding season is
coming again soon, a reminder of his return. A sort winter for most is
appreciated, but if Jesus should return for us sooner, well, that is OK too.
But start each day with him, spend time thinking on him during the day, and
rejoice in him at how he somehow got you through the day, no matter the weather
or drivers out to get you. I believe God made So Cal for those who love to
ride, one Rocky Mountain winter can confirm even the harshest critic. But no
matter the weather, ride with Jesus. Read with Jesus, stay warm by the fire
with Jesus. Make it personal, hand him a polishing cloth, and listen to his
words as he wipes off your bikes with you. As he notices things that need
attention on your bike and in your life. Hang out with him every chance you
get, he’ll answer the call, and it will be personal. And if he offers to bring
along grace, and no she isn’t a girl. Meet grace today, Jesus fought the law
and grace won. And you thought this was a story of how to survive winter...and
it is!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com