You didn’t have to be at Woodstock to remember the Fish cheer, when Country
Joe and the Fish sang “what are we fightin’ for, I don’t give damn...” and
followed up with the famous
give me an...” But everyday we are in a battle, even if we don’t see it. If you remember the British car industry before it quit importing to the Colonies over 35 years ago, you may think Aston Martin, become a bit of a sports car elitist and say TVR, maybe think Austin Healey, but usually MG comes to mind. But how many think Triumph, who also built cars, a different company than the motorcycle one who almost succumbed earlier in the decade? Just a decade before we saw Spitfires everywhere, little 2-seaters with light weight that handled great. How about the GT6+, the hatchback version, a low budget alternative to an XKE, can we say road trip? But while the American automobile was being recreated via emission and safety laws, so were the cars of Britain, and Triumph was on life support.
give me an...” But everyday we are in a battle, even if we don’t see it. If you remember the British car industry before it quit importing to the Colonies over 35 years ago, you may think Aston Martin, become a bit of a sports car elitist and say TVR, maybe think Austin Healey, but usually MG comes to mind. But how many think Triumph, who also built cars, a different company than the motorcycle one who almost succumbed earlier in the decade? Just a decade before we saw Spitfires everywhere, little 2-seaters with light weight that handled great. How about the GT6+, the hatchback version, a low budget alternative to an XKE, can we say road trip? But while the American automobile was being recreated via emission and safety laws, so were the cars of Britain, and Triumph was on life support.
They were sharp enough to see the future, but fell short in execution, the
TR7 being the last gasp. “The shape of things to come,” wedge shaped, an early
attempt at aerodynamics, and they failed miserably. Mention to a girl “do you
want to go for a ride in my new Triumph?” and the date was on, show up in a TR7
and she suddenly had to wash her hair. The shape of things to come had become
the shape of things to avoid, even a TR8 with a V-8 failed, and no matter how
many stripes, special editions, and reminders that this may be the last of the
British sports cars-1980 was the last MGB, they faded away, just like Lucas high
beams, off into the night unnoticed. Seeing one today is rare, the plaid seats
in bright colors, the stripes and exterior colors still look a bit eighties,
sharp edged, but somehow contemporary. And in an age of shades of gray and no
true sports cars left, sporty cars are different, RIP the TR7, TR8, and any
future Triumphs. Will the last person out of the Canley plant please turn off
the light?
The auto world does not live by sports cars alone, but by everything that
proceedeth out of the mouth of GM, Ford, FCA, Toyota, and BMW. Jaguar has made
a tremendous comeback with some great cars, Land Rover still exists if you need
an overweight SUV that will spend most of its time in the shop, and Aston
Martins still require a payment the size of a mortgage to own one. There truly
is nothing like a late evening drive in a true British sports car, top down and
loved one by your side. Just in case something fails, so you don’t have to walk
home alone. But bread alone is not what man needs, Jesus tells us, just as
MGB’s and other cars need more than gas and oil. They require a relationship,
getting personal with them, from oil changes to tune ups, from washing and
waxing to checking the tyres, cars do not live by gas and oil alone. Nor does
man....
You eat and get hungry again. You drink and get thirsty again. We think
physically, but Jesus refers to the things of the spirit. He warns not to work
for food that perishes, but for an eternal food. You need Jesus to enter the
right side of eternity, all else is no gain, except for weight. Jesus tells us
he is the bread of life, go anywhere and bread is universal, a perfect analogy
that anyone can understand. He offers the bread of life, yet we miss the
understanding and application. His desire for us to eat and drink of him is
more than a misplaced comma in “let’s eat, Grandpa,” it goes deeper than a
physical nourishment required for life. He is telling us that if we desire the
shape of things to come, we must be prepared. And his is the only offer that
works.
So what do you do when hungry, you eat. Thirsty, you drink. Do these
things and you should never be hungry or thirsty. But he tells us to come to
him, expecting something, and that eating of him is feeding on his spirit.
Being fed spiritually, to be prepared for what is coming now or tomorrow.
Drinking is listening to what he has to say then doing it. In other words come
and believe, feast on the things of God, and you will never thirst again. Keep
on coming, keep on believing, and never be hungry again. The bread from heaven,
fresh and new every morning. Providing life that is real indeed...
Unlike car designs and trends that change, Jesus never does. He is the
shape of today, the shape of yesterday, and the shape of things to come. Heaven
never goes out of style, although religion may try to regulate it, churches try
to change the flavor, and denominations feed us only one thing, the bread of
life never changes, and is just what we need. Long before car companies tried
to figure out what we would buy next year, Jesus knew what would need and has it
prepared for us. With a spot at his table to sit and enjoy with him. So “give
me a J...” the original Fish cheer went out over 2000 year ago, he was the shape
of things to come even then. Eat and drink of him and never thirst again. Walk
with him and never walk alone. Especially on those foggy English nights when
Joseph Lucas, the Prince of Darkness lets you down. Jesus never will. Just
remember which side of the road to drive on. Bloody Colonists!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com