When filling out an application recently, it asked how many years have I
had a motorcycle license. Even my answer took me by surprise, 47 years. Wow!
Suddenly that makes me feel old! Not really, just older. And as the younger
guy by a generation looked at my answer, he couldn’t figure out anyone riding
for so long. And as I looked around the multi-brand store, I stopped to pause
and think how dealerships had changed. One quick glance and I could see Honda,
Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki. With Can Am throw in, and Polaris. All in one
showroom. A far cry from when we used to spend all day going from VIP Honda, to
Rick’s Cycle and his Triumphs and Kawasakis. Or a 20 minute ride to East Coast
Sales and BMW and Yamaha, in the back of the bicycle shop. Within our bike
riding range there were no Suzuki stores yet, so we never got to Solo Suzuki. It
took a full day, with arguments along the way of what to buy, how long it would
take for us to save, and why would you buy anything else but a Honda? We sat on
bikes, with permission, and could proudly answer “of course I know how to ride,
had a mini-bike for years.” All at age 17. We knew we had no chance that day
of taking a new bike home, but the brochures were free, and many a bedroom wall
was decorated with them. For me it would be a new 1972 CB350 Honda, with even a
calendar on the wall with the days counted down until I got my license, and
would go and buy the bike. Many hours of cutting yards, delivering papers, and
shoveling snow were all about to be worth it. My trip back to where it all
began interrupted by the salesman asking “do you want to buy an extended
warranty?” And I was back to reality.....
It is safe to safe riding has changed and it has changed me. Five /5 BMW’s
in the seventies cured me of them forever. A Honda or two here and there,
meeting the nicest people in between, and my first Z-1, bought used from a
veterinarian who commuted 100 miles a day on it. The 1986 FJ100 bought on a whim
when the price was too good to pass up, and riding it over 7000 miles the first
week. So much for the first service....and the first new Triumph that replaced
it. What was I thinking? What am I thinking now? If any bike could tell of
truly being resurrected, Triumph would be it. The old 650’s were hot until
Honda’s 750, and many would have been left to rust if they didn’t leak oil so
much. Same with Harley, now the barn finds bring big bucks, back then they were
just a big bike that was unreliable and expensive to fix. Maybe some things
haven’t changed. Old for me is bikes from the sixties, for my sons the
eighties, and for kids just getting their license, we’re all old. to us they’re
all young. But in them we can look back and still see the excitement of when we
first rode, our first bike ridden off the showroom floor, our first overnighter,
losing our first girl friend because she wouldn’t ride, and a few of us
fortunate to marry one who does. Over one million miles of roads, meals,
friends met, friends lost, new bikes and old bikes, quicker 1/4 miles, and more
reliability. Some left riding to get married, to some of us it was a part of
our family, we mourned the selling of a bike like losing a pet. With the
memories far surpassing anyone who decided not to ride. Some still read and
dream, to us it started in the old bike shop, while some studied math, we
studied 1/4 mile times. While some planned on college, we planned or riding
across the US of A. We not only dreamed, we rode our dreams, I only hope the
new riders can look back as I do after 47 years....maybe it wasn’t so long after
all.
Any apple farmer will tell you that picking all the fruit on a tree makes
for a larger harvest. How much fruit does your harvest produce? Does your
passion for riding only extend to blipping the throttle to show how cool you
are, or spending an afternoon removing 7000 miles of road grit from a trip? Do
you only pick the fruit you can reach, never venturing up higher, where the
better fruit is? Or do you only pick up what is on the ground, figuring “it’s
all the same no matter its place on the tree?” Some ride a month on a tank of
gas, some of us fill up twice a day on a much larger tank. But does your
passion only relate to riding? Do you have the same passion for Jesus after
many years with him? Do you look back on the good old days, how it was, and
comment on how it is, how religion has changed. Or do you show thanks that
Jesus never did or does? Over the years have you found a niche in your church
or denomination, and despite the warnings, stay there, wondering what all the
excitement about Jesus is all about?
Paul warns us in Romans of factions within churches that appear holy but
really cause dissention. Practices and programs that they put in place so they
know you are saved, meeting their requirements for joining, but falling short of
Jesus. “Only true Christians believe like us,” all others are not up their
standards. The are found serving in and for the church, but not Jesus.
Bringing tithes into the storehouse, the church, but neglecting those in need as
Jesus confronted them with. Maybe you have been in a fellowship and didn’t fit
in, and were asked to leave. Seems scripture had no place if it didn’t come
from their pulpit. Or maybe you were on a church board and faced with
excommunicating such a one? Paul’s answer is simple, just ignore them, don’t
give them time, a sentence, or as John says “don’t even say God bless you,” as
their god is not God of the Bible, and saying such would only recognize their
false one. We are warned to be wise as serpents, but gentle as lambs, but know
this, as Paul writes, we shall know them by their fruit. And a good tree cannot
produce bad fruit, so stay in the vine, with Jesus, and ripen and grow. Maybe
where you shop for a bike is important, but where you fellowship is more
important. Sadly with one example close to me.
I used to attend a church of over 7000, the pastor widely known and loved.
But questioning him on communion once, if not saved you couldn’t take it at his
church, he admitted that wasn’t scriptural, but he was using it as a tool for
evangelism. When I commented that was like being invited to dinner, but not
being allowed to eat after hearing what a great cook he was, he looked
confused. He had made his own standard for communion, just the opposite from
the first one at the last supper. Remember Judas was served communion...and we
know his fate. Jesus didn’t deny anyone, we do. So be careful what you
believe, and in whom you listen to. For so long the truth has set us free, but
the lie and fake news of religion goes on.
And so I buy into Jesus for all I can get, I want to be blessed, and I want
to grow closer, to share him with my life, using words if needed. Maybe that is
why I am a long distance rider, and a long distance believer. The more time I
spend with him the more joy in my life, and the miles go by blessed. So it was
only natural that halfway down the application I tore it up. Why buy a new bike
when my old ones were sitting waiting to travel? The young salesman didn’t get
it, but I hope you do. After riding for so long, I wasn’t about to say so long
to an old riding partner. That was a better bike than the new one. Seems Godly
advice works when riding to, and only works best if taken. As in “taking a
ride.” Looking back, maybe it hasn’t been so long after all. Just make sure
Jesus in your life isn’t forgotten too long...with a simple prayer, “I hope
today is your best day ever, and tomorrow even better. Go out and show love
others and make them feel better, it will make you feel better too. There is
nothing wrong with feeling better and helping others feel better too.” The
gospel in one thought. If only you could see the grin inside my Arai!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com