At the time I was working for a large corporation, but we still knew each
other pretty well inside the four walls. With limited parking area, we could
see who drove what and when they arrived for work each day, when they left for
lunch, and when they returned, if ever. But what we drove identified us as much
as the department we worked in, and with only BH and I riding motorcycles, when
a new one, a brand new 1974 Harley showed up, we had to find out who. So going
to the president’s secretary, who knew everything, and too much about everybody,
she told us his name was Tom, he was tall with brown hair, and just got his
doctorate in chemical engineering. He worked in the research and development
lab, and because she knew us, warned us to stay away from him. Which was like
an invitation to us, another guy who rode, so we sought him out. She had
described him perfectly, as the other girls in the building would attest to, but
when I introduced myself as the BMW R90S rider, it motorcycles first, girls
second. He went on to tell me how he had always wanted a motorcycle, and it was
forbidden by his parents, another thing we had in common, and when graduating,
used his gift money and his first paycheck to buy a Harley. He knew nothing
about them except the name, so going down to the Harley store, a much different
proposition in those days, he walked in and rode off with a blue FX, 1200 cc’s
or as it was called at the time , the 74. The big one. But he had never ridden
before, so he taught himself, and finally felt confident enough to ride to
work. It turned out he was a pretty good rider, better than we expected from
his story, so we rode together a few times, and did one overnighter. But that
is another story....
The early seventies were a golden era for Japanese motorcycles, but a dark
chapter for Harley, as well as anything made in Great Britain. Old designs, old
factories, old workers and old working conditions were either driving them out
of business, or to the brink of it. Harley in an act of mercy had been
purchased by AMF, who made all its money in sporting goods, mention AMF and you
thought scuba gear or bowling alleys, not motorcycles. But as bad as history
remembers Harley and AMF, AMF at least rescued them form extinction. Barely.
For Tom’s Harley had quality problems, was 1930’s engineering, and his bike
didn’t even have an electric leg to start it. So while we pushed a button, he
broke a sweat, and on the occasions when it wouldn’t start, so did we as we push
started him. We never really thought much about it, but a few details were
evident, we came to a stop, he slowed to a stop, we accelerated quickly, him
leisurely, we were relatively smooth, he vibrated, and we could go almost 200
miles on a tank, he was under 100. Which still left him with plenty of reserve,
for every 50 miles he had to stop to get feeling back in his hands due to the
vibration. It was all part of owning a Harley back then, but the vibration was
so bad, we let Tom lead, for one important reason. He could keep up OK, most of
the time, but his bike had a peculiar quirk, the instrument cluster would
vibrate off on a regular basis, leaving him to grab it while in motion before it
fell into the front wheel, only held on by the speedo cable. At first it was
disconcerting, but after awhile he got pretty good at it, so we kept him insight
in case one time he missed and crashed. Sadly his time on a motorcycle was
short lived, he never really blamed the Harley, but at his income level he could
buy fast cars, and in Jersey where rain is the norm, he did the common sense
thing. But we always knew him as the graduate who bought a new Harley and could
catch his instruments at speed. Such are the men of legends.....
In some circles it may be trendy to talk religion, in particular religious
men. The talk may be of Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius, Gandhi, Joseph Smith, and
others who are related to religious history. Maybe described within the terms
of being moral, the best being said about them they taught what they believed
was right, with many adhering to their teachings. But one thing they could not
do, was enable men to do those things, as they were more sayer than doer, they
could instruct us, but could never do it themselves. That is why we never
consider Jesus among them, he not only taught, but lived the perfect life, and
solved the one thing no one else could, he overcame death. No one else has done
it or can do it, so God made him the cornerstone, and gave him a name above all
names. We know what to do, in some cases over educated, what we need is an
example of a living person to show us, one who can change us, motivate us, and
give us a new ability, outlook, and a new life to do it. All the others were
religious, only Jesus makes it personal, not just unto death, but afterwards for
eternity. No other name under the earth or in the heavens can compare, and one
day every knee shall bow, under and above the earth, to the name of Jesus. All
others can still be found in their graves, only Jesus did what he promised and
resurrected himself after death. His tomb is empty, the body missing, and
someday we will leave an empty body behind, because our spirit will join him in
heaven. We will have conquered death.....the only way, so as to not get
confused.
Today the church has given Christianity a bad rap, mostly self inflicted,
because it has strayed away from the truth of Jesus Christ. Some claim to be
contemporary, to be progressive, to accept sin in their midst, but still have
trouble with the sinner. Too many pastors graduate from seminary, college like
Tom did, with a degree, who have an education but no experience. Who seek after
God, but like Tom, find they can get by just fine without the relationship, and
go on to other things. It may be bad experiences, bad karma some might say, but
what it really is they were never one of us. Tom rode with us, even owned a
motorcycle,but he was never really one of us, and when the pressures outweighed
the pleasures of riding, quit. What he was looking for was much different than
what he got, or expected. Don’t get caught in a religious trap, seek Jesus, and
find the freedom you are seeking, and a heavenly outcome. Jesus never fit and
will never fit in with the religious leaders, they hated him, unto death, for
three days celebrating his death, but he rose again and today we celebrate his
death. And his resurrection....
The Ten Commandments are a great way to live, but offer no salvation. It
takes Jesus, and someday your knee will bow to him in eternity. Today you have
a choice of where you will do it, heaven or hell. He welcomes you no matter
what you ride or even if you don’t, no other name will accept you as you are.
No other name will forgive, no other name can defeat death. Wise men may still
seek him, it is the blessed of us who have found him and are saved. The
difference may be as simple as I own a motorcycle vs. I ride a motorcycle. Or I
go to church, but I know Jesus. Like the Maltese Falcon, Jesus is the thing
that dreams are made of. And you can do it while riding. Such are the men of
legends, but only one is legendary. And still alive.
As with motorcycles, beware the gentle art of seduction. And here’s to you
Mrs. Robinson, Jesus loves you more than you will know......
love with compassion,
Mike matthew25biker.blogspot.com