I didn’t realize I had known PJ for almost 15 years. On our yearly trips
across the US of A, we would always stop at his Triumph store, and even though
it was only once a year,we got to know the guys there and felt like regulars.
We were allowed past the no customers allowed sign in the shop, and I could call
Aaron the service manager from the road and he always found a spot for an oil
change or brakes. We got to know Dylan, Jonezy, and of course PJ, who would
toss me the keys to a custom bike they had built to take it for a ride. To
catch up on his business, and chat about what I had seen via the press fleet.
When I had open heart surgery in 2012, it turned out Peter, my cardiologist was
his neighbor and best friend, and he offered me a bike to ride once Peter
released me. We might not have had many roots, but they ran deep, and even
though our visits lacked quantity, they had a quality. But when stopping in for
an oil change on our way back from Illinois last June, there were a lot of new
faces, as PJ had sold his Ducati franchise, and went with it to run it, leaving
a new man to manage. Only the new service manager remembered me, he once was
the parts gopher, and after an oil change, also washed my bike before setting us
back out on the road. Try that at your dealer....
But when in Albuquerque with Christopher in September, we rode by PJ’s and
it was closed. The inventory that was left was going back to the vendors, and
catching Dylan at Bobby J’s, he gave me the low down. The store was gone,
closed for good, and no one had the folding green or FICO score to borrow the
money to buy it. A place busy with regulars, who met on Saturday mornings over
coffee and doughnuts before their ride, who met on Sundays when they were closed
for another ride, who depended on PJ’s to take care of them and their bikes, now
was gone. A local store, in fact the only Triumph dealer in New Mexico, local
covered a lot of miles. I have already started my new trip routing, no more
reason to go to Albuquerque other than to eat at Monroe’s, but there are other
back roads, and hopefully another PJ’s that I haven’t met yet. In a city and
state that has a great biking community, I hope someone qualified steps up, we
all need them.
For 3 1/2 years the disciples traveled, ate, slept, listened, were taught,
and saw the many miracles of Jesus. First hand. No one had to tell them, they
were there, and then suddenly he was gone. Looking back they might have
remembered how he said he would leave them, and how they should carry on under
the power of his spirit he left them. But it all happened so suddenly when it
happened, one betrayed him, others deserted him in the garden, and none were
found at the cross. Only two went to the tomb and found it empty, and 10 of the
remaining 11 were found afterwards huddled and scared for their lives in the
upper room, where they had once met and ate and fellowshipped with Jesus. Only
Thomas was absent that night, quite possibly out looking for his savior, where
was the body? Like PJ’s, the closing of Jesus’ life on earth caused great
change in their lives. They no longer had him to go to, to feed them and
protect them, but unlike the void in Albuquerque for Triumph, Jesus left them
his spirit. And we see that on the day of Pentecost, the same Peter who was
afraid when a little girl confronted him about knowing Jesus, now stood before
3000 sharing his testimony of Jesus, and the church began. With Jesus they had
depended on him for everything, now they found in his spirit they could do all
things in Christ who would strengthen them. They would go on to spread the
gospel around the known world, and all die a martyr’s death for it. Fear had
been replaced by grace, and the 12 men Jesus left soon became the church, his
church, and although the church has a spotty history, when in Christ it
continues to grow and thrive today. While some still deny him and his presence,
while some still seek their own way, he still forgives and calls us to himself.
His spirit is still alive, and even though his tomb was found empty, we know
where he is and can call on him at any time. The phones still ring at PJ’s, but
no one is there to answer. Fortunately Jesus left a forwarding address.
We can have confidence in the words of Jesus because they matched his
actions. We know that since he was resurrected as he said he would, we can be
also if we believe. Maybe if we just consider Jesus for a minute, who predicted
his own death and resurrection, then carried it out, we might just get closer to
him. We might just trust him a little more. We just might let him save us. No
one else has done what he has and what he can do, forgive sins. But his
departure also set a precedent that still is in action today. Whenever the
church, the true believers come under fire, they don’t huddle like the disciples
did and hide, they move on, go forth, and the gospel goes places it might not
have gone. Which has a direct effect on our future rides through New Mexico.
No more PJ’s, we head north, next year will head further south, and go places we
might not have. We were stuck in a groove across New Mexico, now we are
groovin’ across the whole state, no more I-40, two laners for sure. More Mom
and Pop places to eat, new adventures await. A lot of unknowns, but with Jesus
guiding us, we know it will be exciting and new. Maybe a taste of what the
disciples felt, new frontiers trusting their Lord to guide them. Taking the
gospel, being the gospel to those off the beaten path. For in a Christian life,
whenever God shuts a door, it is because he is opening a new and more exciting
one. Every no answer to prayer is because a better yes is coming. So although
we miss PJ, it is time to ride on.
We don’t like change, but with no change you get no growth. When the
disciples showed us how to trust the spirit, it set a new high for blessings,
and a new calling to those who trust in Jesus. Traveling with Jesus might never
get boring, but he has given us a spirit of pioneering, of evangelism, of seeing
lives changed in his name, by his spirit. Those who used to frequent PJ’s will
find another place, it will not be the same, but it can be better. Jesus
promises us better when we follow him, and leave the past behind. While some
are concerned about what is in their rearview mirror, I rather look over the
handlebars to what lies ahead. The future is where we will spend tomorrow, and
all our tomorrows. It is time to move on, your day of Pentecost is nearing, let
Jesus shine through you and see him come alive to others. The only two days of
our life we have no control over are the days we were born and die. Jesus
controlled his.....and your excuse is?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com