There is an old tale about four blind men encountering an elephant, and
trying to describe it. One grabs its trunk and says it is like a snake.
Another grabs its leg and describes it as a tree trunk. Still a third touches
its side and describes it as a wall, while the last one grabs his tail, and
describes it as a rope. All men are right in what they felt and described, yet
they are all wrong as they only encountered parts of the elephant and never got
the whole picture. A lot of life is like that, we make snap decisions based on
a quick encounter, but fail to see the whole picture. An encounter after church
one morning with a nurse tells me how motorcycling is deadly, based on her ER
experiences. Harley guys cruise at the high speed of 65, sport bike guys ride
at over 100, and go faster in the curves, yet adventure riders aren’t content
until the pavement ends, and the road continues on. All are the same sport, but
each rider sees his ride different.
Years ago if you wanted the ultimate performance, you rode a liter bike,
now you can get the same or better performance from a 600, which coincidentally
costs the same as liter bikes of a decade ago. Metric cruisers try to compete
with Harley, Indian has given them a wakeup call, Harley is trying to market a
sport bike, and everyone now wants to follow BMW’s lead with their best selling
GS 1200. Trying to predict the next riding trend keeps designers up late,
managers looking for trends, and today’s rider wondering what his next new bike
will be. In each case, they are trying to figure out what we want, but really
they are more interested in what will sell. And like the four blind guys and
the elephant, each address a part of motorcycling, but somehow never ask the
elephant, us how we feel.
Years ago the old dog food story was told, of a company meeting and the new
release of a new dog food. The new ads were shown, the new packaging, and new
ad campaign. The profit picture was shown, and the managers wives were already
spending their bonus checks. The room took on a pep rally atmosphere, until one
man asked the question, “what do the dogs think of it? Have they tried it
yet?” And the room went quiet....No one had thought to ask the dog if he liked
it. Ministry to some people is the same thing, one church has old clothes, so
gives them to a second hand store, who then has to throw them out. Not too many
homeless need expensive gowns. A youth group goes out and gives away apples to
the poor, which go uneaten, they never considered their lack of teeth and how
the apples cannot be eaten. It being Christmas season and many toy runs are
going on, yet the rest of the year, who cares about these kids? Many times the
ministry we see on the street is like the rich man who stands up in church and
gives $1000-anonymously. All things are good, but not all are productive. No
one took the time to ask the homeless, the motorcycle rider, the dog, or the
elephant his point of view, or what he wanted. Sorta like Job and his
friends....
Job’s three friends gave him good advice, but never considered the man and
his mental or emotional condition. In stress and distress, they read his
attitude as a man in sin, not a man in misery. “Job’s misery must be a result
of his sin,” and then condemn him, never considering his feelings. Yet we see a
depth to Job in his response to his wife, who is condemned in religion as a
bitter and sinful woman, telling her husband to just curse God and die. But
Job’s response gives us real insight to the man, he tells her you are not
yourself, you are acting out of character. He sees deep into her situation, the
others are just ready to judge. She too has lost everything....remember that
next time your burger comes with onions and you didn’t ask for them. They give
advice, bad here, and go on thinking what a great job they did. But where is
the love.....they never considered God’s character. How often we react like
that to people in distress we have all the answers, we fail to ask the right
questions. Yet many study to find themselves approved, but in reality are
looking for loopholes for their sin. Bragging of God, quoting Jesus, but never
knowing him, let alone asking him for guidance.
Like Job’s friends do we consider God in situations? Do we pray for them,
leaving the answer open to the spirit, or do we condemn them in our words? The
book of Job is filled with many prayers, yet they are all his to God, no one
else’s. Which part of the elephant are you grabbing? A snake or a tree? Do
you ride you Harley on gravel roads, or your adventure bike only on pavement? A
friend of mine spent $7000 to make his Harley go fast, yet never rides over 70.
Another friend has the cleanest leathers, yet his tires have the widest chicken
strips. Some own a motorcycle, some of us ride. Some are religious, some know
Jesus. Some give advice, some fail to take it. But in every situation, have we
stopped to ask “where is Jesus?” Not what would Jesus do? if you are a
Christian you shouldn’t have to ask, but where is he in this situation? A test
or a punishment. Even Satan had more insight than Job’s friends, yet many are
so busy judging others they fail to see how they misquote scripture when doing
it. Maybe we all just need to go for a ride....
You don’t know what my last phone call was, good or bad. Yet we are quick
to judge, no smile and it’s “what’s his problem?” When really you are the
problem. So ask God who gives abundantly, including good advice and wisdom. A
good shepherd knows the route he is on, and protects his sheep. Our great
shepherd knows the plans he has for us, for growth, security, and how to deal
with danger. He wants to be part of our lives, and he wants us part of his. So
maybe we need to ask the same question the man at the dog food rally asked,
“what does God think of it?” Have you considered God, or are you acting like a
foolish woman? God knows your character, do you know his? Or is you
relationship with him just another feel good toy run.....if you have to ask,
he’ll understand.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com