As a kid growing up, we used to hang out by Bud’s Cycle Shop, looking at
all the bikes we dreamt about. English racers with 5 speeds, real racers with
10 speeds, turned under handle bars, and how many wanted that neat little clip
for your pants to keep them out of the chain? He tolerated us a lot, knowing we
were potential customers, calmly answering our questions. What we didn’t know
was that we were training for bigger things when we got our license, and would
hang out around the back at VIP Honda. How we would try to stay out of the way,
watching and marveling at how the mechanics fixed things. Mesmerized, we wanted
to be part of it all, and occasionally when asked to do a meaningless task, such
as empty the trash, or sweep up, we jumped at the chance. Jay Leno shared at
Bud Ekins’ memorial how that was how he met Bud, Bud told him “no pretty boys
here, sweep up if you are going to hang around.” You are never too old to
realize your dream, or to sweep up. But sometimes we would be asked to chase a
part, feeling important when saying to the parts man, “I’m here from VIP to pick
up_______,” we were part of the team. Sometimes we would be given a shirt from
the shop with its name on it, sometimes hanging around after closing and
listening to the bench racing. We were part of the crew, one of the boys, and
no money could compensate for the education, or its application. Dirty hands,
dirty jokes, and stained clothes from being where the action was, no one had to
ask where you had been, they could tell by looking at you, and all your friends
wanted to be you. You were their connection, the connection into the world of
motorcycles, and in your mind you just knew they couldn’t get by without
you.....
But with insurance regulations, and a peer group of kids that don’t want to
get their hands dirty, who are more into texting than riding, the crowd is
thinning out of kids like us when we were young. They huddle at tables, stand
together in groups at the Apple store, texting but not talking with or to each
other. Mindless robots who in no way would ever care to experience the wind in
their face, the dirt under their fingernails, and the challenge of doing
anything with their hands other than texting. Who find solace in their cocoon
of sameness, gathering information, and calling it an education. It has become
normal for them to shun others, to not communicate face to face, or to speak in
sentences, and given a problem, only know to Google it. They never get to know
the joy of accomplishment of doing something with their hands, of wiping the
sweat from their brow with dirty hands, of the smell of racing castor, and 110
octane gas. They live life behind a 3x5 screen, and anything outside of that
screen is dangerous. They will never take one for the team because they are not
part of one, and if asked to sweep up, question “is the Roomba broken?” No
wonder there are signs to keep them out of the shop, do you want them wandering
around yours?
Look around any church service today and watch the amount of people
texting. Not listening, but still with an air of “I’m here, so bless me God,”
even though it is against their will to attend. How interesting if a pastor was
to ask at the end of the service, “where have you people been while I was
speaking?” Know any pastors that brave? I don’t, but what of those whose entire
Christian experience is church, without ever experiencing Jesus? Who have done
all the right things per the church, but never know Jesus? Scripture passes
them by, and their lives are not affected by it. They take it all in, but the
output is nothing. And we wonder why so many kids raised in church go astray?
Maybe they are practicing what they learned from their parents, their actions
speaking louder than their words. Remember Jesus it is not what goes into a
man, but what comes out that is important. I wish I had heard that taught when
younger....still haven’t today. Maybe this is why so many hollow prayers are
offered up, and so many hollow answers given, because they never were part of
us, they never participated. They got all they expected from God, nothing,
because that is what they asked for. Unlike the man encountering Peter and
John, lame and begging for money, Peter’s answer surprised him, “silver and gold
have I not, but in the name of Jesus rise up and walk!” He had been taught to
beg, but his real need was to walk, and his experience with Jesus would do just
that. He would walk, something no amount of money could buy him, it gave him
freedom, all in the name of Jesus.
Meanwhile at the Apple store, great minds are taking in information, but
never getting the answers they need. Google Jesus, see what comes up. It is
time to get out and experience him first hand, to get our hands dirty by meeting
those who don’t know him, who won’t go to a church, and see Jesus in action.
They could be the ones hanging around just waiting for a chance to hear the
truth, while your face is buried in a screen. They could be the ones with dirty
clothes and blisters form pushing a broom, never making enough to own an
i-anything. Jesus meets us where we are, he comes to us. He spent his life on
the road, meeting the people. I can see him sweeping up, taking out the trash,
and running for parts, just to be a part of your life. Some think church is all
you need, when really it is Jesus is all you need. When he changes your heart,
you will want to meet other Christians, to go to church, to listen to the word
taught properly. Religion gets it all backwards. Jesus will never leave you
with a blank screen, or charge you for a monthly service. Maybe if the church
got its hands dirty....
If your feet never get dirty, you will never have to have them washed. If
you never had sinned, you wouldn’t need a savior. Jesus did both, washing us
inside and out. Encouraging us to love others, to be the gospel here on earth.
To meet all people, not just the safe ones. Maybe Mother Teresa said it best,
when a reporter exclaimed among the sick and dying,”I wouldn’t do this for a
million dollars.” Her reply was “either would I.” If you want to see Jesus in
action, you need to be where the action is. All others....see you at the Apple
store.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
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