After following the plow over Wolf Creek Pass on the 4th of July, I stopped
to take off the few warm clothes I had with me. Sitting by the side of the road
somewhere east of Pagosa Springs, I looked at my Z-1, and was amazed at what I
had been through on it. The tough ride had brought us together somehow, and as
a plow passed on its return trip up the pass, I was amazed it was July, and I
had been riding in a snowstorm, on two wheels. With a moment to stop and
reflect, and how the bike never missed a beat, nor did I. And how next time I
would be ready...
It was a blowing, raining, dark afternoon in the Panhandle of Texas on
I-40. On my Sprint ST, I stopped for gas in one of those unnamed towns just off
the freeway. All bundled up, and leaning against the bike so it wouldn’t blow
over during fueling, I looked across at a family stuffed in a white Lincoln, the
windows all fogged up. And realized there was no way I would ever trade with
them....
I had left Fargo on my Tiger heading west in a storm, for 191 miles I would
be in stiff winds, hard rain, and cold, in the 40’s. When it stopped and I
gassed up and removed my rainsuit, I noticed the front tire scuffed up, on the
right side, like a day at the track. I had been riding side ways for so long it
had scuffed it. As dark as it was behind me, I was glad it was sunny ahead,
even if it only was in the thirties. Sun has a way of warming you after a cold
rain, no matter the temperature. A quick meal of mini donuts and a Coke and I
was riding again...a big steak dinner awaiting me in Billings....
The sun behind me was so bright it was blinding me in my mirrors, but so
dark ahead it was like midnight. Then the downpour began, and getting of I-70
at Xenia, Ohio, I had to stop as a Mazda was at the bottom of the exit with
water over its hood, but slowing, I kept going through it, and made it to
safety, of sorts. Pulling into a gas station, the overhang provided safety,
until lightning hit the bowling alley a hundred feet away! Helmet back on, I
was out of there...and at my motel an hour later, checked in without showing ID
or a credit card, I was so soaked. The girl behind the desk understood, and I
slept well that night, waking up to the sun shining in my room, with no sign of
last night’s events. I had fallen asleep thinking of the sirens I heard
responding to the lightning strike, somehow so far away from the deep sleep I
had just had. With more rain to come.....
I had barely made it into Amarillo, riding up US 287, when the storm hit.
I had been in high winds with no place to stop, and even been hit by a
tumbleweed, which carry some power. At the Holiday Inn, the manager let me park
my R90S in the lobby, which was good, as the wind blew my sliding glass door
open, and taking off my boot, my left foot was purple to my toes. With a new
respect for tumbleweeds, and the next day was clear and cold, and I made it to
my new home in Albuquerque the day before Thanksgiving. You may ask what kind
of fool would endure these riding conditions, but then you don’t understand
those of us who ride, and our relationship with our bikes. And the
road....
Many safe motorcyclists would never ride in such conditions, might get
there shiny leathers or new bike dirty. Upset the image. There are many safe
Christians out there too, telling God how they want to serve him, then telling
him how they want to serve him. How they want to be like Jesus, and then find
out how Jesus and his disciples suffered. Suddenly a pastor hiding behind a
pulpit telling them only good things is more appealing, and they live a life of
being sheltered from the blessings God has for them. Scared, and hiding, they
won’t or don’t admit their fear, but have scriptures to back up their actions.
They behave like the 10 did that night after Jesus was crucified, scared and
hiding in the same upper room where they had last seen him alive, some would
abandon him in the garden, only a few were at the cross. All but Thomas, who
was nowhere to be seen that night, and who later questioned their story of Jesus
appearing to them. Maybe he knew them better than we do from the scriptures, as
he doubted their words, and wanted proof. We don’t know where he was that
night, maybe out looking for the body wanting proof, or maybe street smart, not
going to where the Romans and Jews knew they met. He was street smart, and was
out to weather the storm, but never alone. Maybe he was not the doubter
religion has made him out to be, for it is never written he doubted. He only
wanted proof. Like those wanting proof of my riding in the storms, because it
sounds unreal or unbelievable, we don’t stop for a selfie in the midst of the
action, but we do pray while in it. The storm may beat upon us, but we know
Jesus is with us somehow, our testimony bearing it out, as we know and he
knows. And that is enough for me. We are not performing to create a story to
relate, we are living life with Jesus in it. We are not out to prove Jesus
lives, the spirit does that, we are just an occasional vehicle to share it.
Whether your audience believes us or not is not the point. The moment in time
was for us...and Jesus.
Consider your testimony, are the only or best times with God in church? Or
are they out every day in the storms where he is proving himself? Too many tell
us how to live but have never experienced life in Christ, only what they have
been taught. If you have never been in the rain in a rain suit, you don’t know
the security of being warm and dry inside it while all hell is breaking loose
outside. Putting on a sweater when the AC gets too cold just isn’t the same.
Jesus promised us storms, or tribulation in our lives. He never said you had to
go through them alone, for he is always with us. Somehow the greatest
testimonies come from the hardest times, when we had no one else to turn to,
when the storm was overwhelming us, and we saw Jesus. Just like Stephen saw him
calling him home, he is with us in every storm. Some stay huddled in the boat
in the storm like the disciples did, or upstairs, doors locked like in the upper
room. Afraid. Not trusting. Only Peter and Thomas dared step out, and
religion has given both a bad time. Want to get a bad name in religious
circles, step out and lie life, experience Jesus, first hand. The truth told,
we need to be more like them both, to trust God, to seek him when we cannot find
him, and not be afraid of what others think. Or you can put on your sweater in
church when things get hot....
Speaking of hot, the thermometer showed 124 degrees when we stopped in
Needles for gas. All the glue on my Arai melted and the molding fell off. Arai
claimed it was tested to 122 degrees....but that’s another story. There are
many moods to riding a motorcycle, just as there are many moods to knowing Jesus
and being a real Christian. Of course if you are a Christian rider you know
what I mean....where will you be found when the time comes? Just a
thought.....from a guy who rides and knows about true shelter in the storm.
God sent me a snow plow when needed.....so button up, the AC will be on in
church soon, summer is approaching. Better check my Arai....
love with compassion,
Mike
mattehw25biker.blogspot.com