I’ve always wanted a dump truck. Not sure why, definitely not practical, I
have no real use for it, no place to park it, and really no place to drive it.
Yet I have always wanted one. Maybe the Tonka truck influence of when I was a
kid, maybe being a baby boomer and watching suburbia being built in the early
sixties, or maybe because they just look cool, I want one. Maybe it was Tonka
naming a double rear axle dumper Big Mike, maybe riding to work in the back of
one when working for the Union County Park Commission summers in high school, or
maybe because they just look cool. I have settled on a mid fifties GMC, maybe
Ford Big Job, 53-56, but my first love is the B Model Mack trucks. Must have a
diesel, always thought the name Thermodyne was cool, still not sure what it
means, and a two speed rear axle. I am open to colors, but that red that Mack
seemed to paint everything would seal the deal, after talking to my wife first,
of course. But I think she would understand, or at least say she did, as I have
brought home Mustangs, Suzuki Samarai’s, MGB’s, Thunderbirds, and who knows how
many motorcycles that were welcomed, all without prior knowledge. I take
exception to the sign in the local Yamaha store that reads “your wife called,
and said you could buy what you want.” I am considerate of her, maybe if I
start leaving little hints about the Mack she will catch on. Who knows, there
may be a Ford in my future? Or a GMC....now if they came in a convertible model
I know I would stand a better chance.
And so I look, in Vintage Truck magazine for old dumpers for sale. The
Midwest is full of old farm trucks, in pretty good condition, just what I am
looking for. Do you think she has caught on to all the rides to Iowa yet? An
old GMC sits outside Woodstock, Vermont calling my name for years. Sadly the
old truck yard, outside of Ashland, Oregon is gone, so much old construction
equipment, priced fair, I had been looking, but a few years ago it was gone,
succumbing to yet another strip mall. Supplanting the vehicles that might have
helped build it. I know there is one out there for me, so I still look. And it
will be parked outside, so there is still room in the garage for the bikes and
her Mustang. How could she say no?
And with a few thousand squirreled away, it seems the money could be there,
but where are the trucks? Why are the good deals always there when I don’t have
the cash? If only the two would meet...so I still dream, still look, and still
desire an old dump truck. Not quite desperate to go Dodge hunting yet, or even
Studebaker, although I see on old one lately, might be for sale, but I am
hanging onto Mack. Unless a GMC or Ford Big Job breaks my heart and wallet
first.
It has been said wisdom is the nature of things, and understanding is the
awareness of the difference between them. Wisdom leads me to dump trucks,
understanding says Mack. Or GMC. Or Big Job. Nowhere is common sense
mentioned. But although we have the knowledge of the things of God, many fall
short of the wisdom the spirit offers. The understanding that we are offered in
making decisions. I know many people who have denied Jesus because they
couldn’t understand him, the gospel not making sense. And on paper it might
not, why would God sacrifice his son for a group of people who hated him? Why
would God come down to us? Aren’t all other deities higher and mightier and
above us? Cults have the knowledge, or at least the teaching of what they
believe, as perverted from the gospel as it may seem, but they lack wisdom.
They don’t understand that denying the deity of Jesus Christ means hell. And
they say we Christians don’t get it. We try to argue in vain, forgetting that
the wisdom of the spirit is what reveals the mysteries of Christ, and our
understanding of the scriptures helps us make the right decisions. It is when
we try to rationalize the things of God into earthly means we lose the
translation. It is why we need the spirit to provide the wisdom and
understanding we need to know Jesus. He reflected these in his ministry, and we
can too, in the spirit. So often we neglect to admit Jesus knows the answers
before we ask, forgetting how we go through each detail, spelling it out for
God, as if he was a newcomer. Maybe if we listened more, we would know more.
His wisdom would be imparted to us. Understand? Jesus is the difference. He
never said “he who has a mouth let him speak,” he said “he who has an ear let
him hear.” Wisdom comes from listening, and understanding comes from God.
So Jesus knows all about my dump truck desire. And there may be one out
there for me. The right one. I have the knowledge of the trucks, I need the
wisdom to see which one. And in understanding will know which one. So I dream
and hope...but what do I do if on the way I pass a bike shop, and another dream
is out there for sale? God give me wisdom to see my way past, the understanding
to know which one to buy, or the cash to get both. You know I can carry the new
bike home in the truck....I guess wisdom like dump trucks has its limits. Jesus
and his wisdom have no limits. And he is much easier than trying to find an old
B model, too. We have never seen the wisdom in SUV’s, or the understanding. I
guess there is still hope for me. But there is an old International for sale
close to hear, might have to alter my ride plans today. Leave the check book
home. After all, my wife has wisdom too. Look who she married. If only she
understood me....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com