The American landscape as seen from the seat of a car, to the seat of a
motorcycle has changed in my lifetime. My earliest recollections were driving
the 60 miles to my Grandparents home, the majority of it on US 22. Being the
early sixties, it was diners, drive ins, and dives, long before the show became
a hit. With two distinguishable landmarks along the way, Stuckey’s and Howard
Johnson’s. We would occasionally eat at Ho Jo’s, but rarely stop at a
Stuckey’s, a tourist trap as my Dad called them. Who needed souveneirs from
where they lived? But as the new interstate went in, all these familiar
landmarks were passed by, and soon became history, only for locals, and my Dad
was right, “who needed souveniers from where they lived? But new landmarks
grew, McDonalds were found at every other off ramp, then Burger King, and soon
it was fast food to the rescue, where once farmland and cattle covered the
hillsides, now strip malls were the new American landscape. But things were
still changing, as soon every other exit had a Walmart, so many you could
probably do a Walmart Across America Tour, never leaving the freeway, and never
leaving home either. But in the latest trend, Harley insists its dealers have
freeway frontage, so now we see Harley stores along the freeways. On one
Torches ride, two guys wanted to stop at each Harley store along the way, and
ended up a day late because of it. Spending a fortune on t-shirts, maybe we
don’t need souveneirs from where we live, but we sure do from where we travel.
With apologies to Joni Mitchell, “they paved paradise, and put in a new
Walmart....”
Creating a commonism among all those who stop and shop there. The only
major difference is in the t-shirts they sell, reflecting where they are
located. We have found that in many cases, you can buy t-shirts much cheaper
there than at the local Stuckey’s replacement, with money leftover to eat at
Mickey D’s, conveniently located inside many of them. Greeted as you enter and
as you leave, with a souveneir to match. I can only imagine the conversations
at the local get together at the trailer park, “nice shirt, which Walmart did
you get it at?” Is it possible that in our quest to get away and escape, we
really don’t want to leave home at all? Or do we? What do you look for when
you travel, could there truly be a Walmart involved in your next vacation?
When they paved paradise, it opened the door to more travel, quicker
travel, and longer distance travel. We got to meet those who would not have
otherwise, and establish a relationship with them. Along with a t-shirt. On
the day of Pentecost, when 3000 were added to the church, instantly it grew in
size and scope. A small group of believers were suddenly faced with new faces,
and how to interact with them. And without the Golden Arches, or the Bar and
Shield, no Walmart yet either, God provided a way unique unto him, which he
still uses today in the hearts and minds of believers, both old and new. On
that day he gave them the Holy Spirit, who united them with God, but also with
each other, giving them a common ground. Despite cultural and language
differences, they could communicate and fellowship with each other. They could
get to know each other, compare likenesses and share differences, and share how
Jesus Christ had changed their lives. Up until then, the gospel was only for
Jews, but that day became available to all who would listen and believe. They
prayed, laughed and cried together, with only Jesus in common, but when being
driven by the spirit, became one. A true sense of community of community was
developed between them, and their commonality was Jesus. Strangers were no
longer strange, love took over, and not a t-shirt to be purchased in sight.
They were operating as the body of God was designed to, not grieving the spirit,
but being led by it. They were kind and compassionate, and the church grew.
Not by programs, processes, or special events, what could be more special than
the spirit revealing Jesus to you? Kindness and compassion swept over them, and
the world and church were changing.
For just like when the sights along the road changed, so did we as we
travel with God. We remember where the Stuckey’s used to be, and how much
farther we had left to go. We passed by the 28 flavors of Ho Jo’s, and the many
diners we used to visit. Things changed and the new things were changing us.
But sadly as old relationships disappeared or changed, the new ones needed work
to survive as well. The more we travel the road, we recognize the old
landmarks, but also discover new ones. We begin to have a relationship with
Harley, if only for a shirt. With Mickey D’s, if only for the dollar drink.
And with Walmart, if only because it is the saving place. But do we remember
the spirit, the one who called us to salvation? Or is he just a memory of a
trip we took? In this world we will have tribulation, too much self inflicted,
if only we could unite in the spirit? Put away our petty religious
differences? Overcome denominational diatribe and be spirit led. What a
difference our lives would make. But first we need to remember that we are
sojourners, travelers on tis planet for a short time. And we need Jesus to get
to our final destination, heaven. We need the spirit to guide us, protect us,
comfort and unite us. For without him, we wander, and wonder what could have
been. In Jesus, we will know....
It all starts with a relationship with Jesus, driven by his spirit, and
then lived using his power. We cannot do it ourselves, lest religion tell us
the same old lie that we can, without the spirit to heal our hurts and
differences, we will never be at peace with others, or with God. If no life
seems to flow from you, maybe you are not living in the spirit, but on your own
understanding. When we start to bear one another’s burdens, trust God and love
as he does, then we will be truly manifesting his spirit within us. Until then,
the numbers on the routes may change, but the trip never will. Jut another
endless ride of the same thing, with nothing to show for it. The key part of
vacation is vacate, to leave behind that which is harmful and to find new ways.
Unless Jesus is that way, we labor in vain. The 3000 can attest to that,
personal yet in numbers. When we forgive, when we love, when we live in the
spirit, the ride changes. Why be stuck with only 28 flavors? Why only a
postcard when you can be in the picture yourself? Why do you need a t-shirt to
remind you, or think Walmart is the saving place? Each ride starts with
pointing yourself to the road and out of the garage. For many the garage is
Sunday at church, could your day of Pentecost be near? Could your trip in the
spirit be waiting? Paradise may not have been paved, but a whole new world in
Jesus awaits you. That door Jesus knocks at may not only want you to answer so
he can come in, but so you can get out and live. Never has the call of the open
road been so great....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com