They are referred to as group rides, but more aptly described as crowd
rides. And I think I may have finally done my last and final one. For many
years we have been part of the Toy Store Invasion, riding en mass to Rady’s
Children’s Hospital and giving out toys to the patients there, while ministering
to both patients and families. But times change, I blamed myself at first but
was assured by others this ride it wasn’t just me. A crowd of only 197, their
head count showed up, as opposed to the 500 they advertised, and immediately the
older guys could be separated from the younger ones. True it was 47 cold So Cal
degrees, but to the new ones in was Arctic cold. And with more donuts than
coffee, the latte riders had to face a reality outside of their SUV’s. When it
became time to leave, we had warned my friend, his first time here, watch out
for yourself, too many of these people do not know how to ride... sadly they
backed up my words. But before leaving, I did visit with some old friends,
seems most of them don’t ride much anymore, and even the so called motorcycle
ministries segregated themselves away from the crowds. Passing out info tracts
is not ministry and inviting someone to a meeting is not evangelism, as one man
learned, funny how he talked to me while the others in their cuts ignored him.
And he had wanted to join before he was snubbed! I guess some things don’t
change. But soon we were off, and the chrome and leather set proved they had
more invested in the look than learning how to ride. With one group of HOG
women, really piglets by their skills and looks, continually stalling, causing
sudden braking form behind. Then weaving in traffic while trying to catch up.
Their only attribute they all had on full face helmets to conceal their
identity....and after one good look, for our protection, too.
Now it had always been the bikes that brought out the kids, but this year
we had to park 200 feet away, leaving large open areas where we used to park and
the kids could sit on our bikes. Even Santa showing up on a Harley drew a small
crowd. True one to one ministry and memories, but not this last Saturday. It
seemed many kids bowed out this year, it used to take hours to let them choose a
toy, this year the lot was half empty in 45 minutes. True any kids were o sick
to come out, but the attitude was different, and they could tell. With the
ministry performed looking like as selfie convention, except for the few who
wanted to film the kids, with one person getting upset with me for pointing out
the no camera stickers on the kids. Maybe she forgot why we went, it wasn’t
about us...But it seems the loud pipes save lives crowd reminded us that only
loud Harley pipes do, as when some R-1 Yamaha showed up and revved up their
bikes, the crowd booed. Long after the stench of unburned hydrocarbons has
left, that will still stick in a few minds. And like my first time rider friend
told me, “no more crowd rides for me. Don’t these people know how to ride? And
sadly, where is the ministering?”
For us it was at lunch when we ran into a man from my flock, and we bought
him lunch. He doesn’t ride, the bus is a big ordeal as he is medicated, and
passed over by society. But that afternoon he opened up and shared some
memories, and felt right at home with the three of us on bikes. Jesus told us
the poor will always be among us, and how he was the original one percenter.
While some ministries brag on numbers, he reminds us how he went back for the
one in 99 who was lost. One may be the loneliest number, but when we put him
first it is the most important one. And it just isn’t the poor riders who are
among us.
A couple tells me of how after over 30 years ministering on the street they
are quitting. The market for the homeless has changed, and they predict based
on what they see that only 5% of the blankets and clothes handed out to the so
called homeless actually receive them. They are taken by those who take them to
Tijuana and sell at swap meets, traded for drugs, and the leftovers for rags.
The really needy get stampeded and passed over. But yet as many social groups,
churches, ministries, and others give at Christmas, and go home feeling good
about what they have done, it is cold in January too, and even after Jesus fed
the 5000, the next day the crowd was hungry again. At least he sent the
disciples home each with a basket to share the next day, to remind them of what
he had done, and also leave the area cleaner than when they arrived. With one
group of homeless mocking one day saying “I hear apples taste good, but we have
no teeth to eat them.” Or one church that sent over 100 prom dresses for the
homeless. But God did them one better, as they were donated to poor prom
attenders, who wouldn’t have gone because of lack of funds. God can and does
take a bad time and turn it to good.
When working for Roger Penkse we learned teamwork is seeing a need and
filling it. Same with ministry, how much do you give when no one is looking?
Does it take the poor riders to remind us of the poor around us? And how they
too have needs? The world is changing rapidly, Jesus is the same now and
forever. We still are his hands and feet, not needed as he has angels to
assist, but wants us to get involved and see him in action, to tell others of
his blessings, and to bless us as we do. Something to remember next time you
wear your Jesus colors in public and cannot understand why they ignore you.
Jesus spent his ministry on the road, not in meetings bragging on how they
showed up or the the great things they had done. Remember it is the church he
condemns for their selfish actions in his name, and claims he never knew them.
And you thought the Pharisees were bad enough!
So no more crowd rides for me, or runs. I like to ride and to minister too
much. And to those in Christian ministry, I reach out to you, with a question.
I’ve been there, and am actively involved in it. So I can comment. What if I
was the one in 99 and saw your patch and had questions? Better yet, what if
that one was you? Loud pipes save lives on sport bikes too, only Jesus knows
the difference. Do you?
Jesus wore no colors, do you need them to show you are a Christian? If
Jesus took a selfie, would you be in it? Would he be in yours.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com.
NOTE! all above photos from 2013 and 2011
NOTE! all above photos from 2013 and 2011