I was the only one who had ever ridden Yarnell Hill in our group of riding
friends. A split lane highway with tight and dangerous curves, it was the only
way down to the desert when leaving Prescott. Having ridden it with Rex a few
times, I had his lines to follow, but this ride would be different. Five of us
on my suggestion, would ride form Farmington to San Diego and back over Memorial
Day weekend, over 1700 miles in four days, no big deal, unless you hadn’t done
it before. Same as Yarnell Hill....right?
So after too much flat land and lack of curves, we were ready for the
hill. All the talk came down to the view from the top, stopping to gaze down,
with an overhead view of the road and its curves, disappearing and then
reappearing. With more excitement than talent, we took off, me leading. After
warning them to ride your own ride. But the temptation, and curves were too
much for Brett, and he passed me going down hill, actually flying by me,
oblivious to what lay ahead. In fact so far ahead, we lost sight of him, which
is never a good thing. I cannot say a bit of panic didn’t step in, but when one
of your group disappears, especially on a curvy road they have never ridden,
suddenly you imagine the worst. While praying for the best. What we found
turned out a little bit of both. Brett had made it to the bottom, and on the
last big sweeper before the desert floor, had gone wide, and into the
tumbleweeds. He was alright, his bike a bit dirty and dusty, and he was picking
the local flora from his motorcycle. A bit shaken, he admitted he was having too
much fun, and had overshot the last corner, the easiest one on the run. We
talked of how lucky he was, and he decided to let me lead again, as I knew the
roads. If only he had followed my lines, as shaky as they can be, he would have
avoided the accident.....just another case of how a bad decision makes for a
better story.....
Now anyone who follows off road racing knows the racers pre run the course
before the race. Too many times we don’t have the sense of the racers, nor the
skills, and think we can do it alone. If it works in racing, it should have
worked on Yarnell Hill, a lesson I have learned riding in rural areas, where old
pick up trucks doing 15 mph can suddenly appear, as can hay bailers, and other
farm equipment. If I cannot see around the corner, I slow, and at times have
been accused of using common sense. Prerunning may not be as much fun as
racing, but it also may keep you out of a ditch. Finishing the race, or ride is
always the priority, everyone knows that to finish first, first you must
finish.
Jesus shared with his disciples to stay alert, and to watch because you do
not know when the master will return. But when do you start watching for the
return? If you know your boss will be gone for two weeks, do you wait until the
last minute, and then prepare for his return? As time passes we lose sight of
his return, and get way laid, we just cannot wait for it, and when it doesn’t
happen as we are told, some lose interest. Or like Brett, when they see the
promise, cannot wait, and try to make time, to enjoy the promised thrill. Jesus
warns we are to alert so we cannot be led astray, for we do not know of the time
or date of the return of Jesus, just as we don’t know what lies ahead in the
curves. But yet many are falling asleep, turning to wine, and now pot, because
both are legal, and after all, didn’t Jesus drink wine? And the excuses
flow.....until the bottom of the hill, and a wide curve, normally ridden at
speed becomes an accident scene. One that could have been prevented. I have
heard from pulpits that we can live as we please, but with no warning of the
consequences. You’re forgiven, you’re going to heaven, if I die I’m saved. But
what if you don’t die? What if you are tragically burned? Paralyzed? What
about the burden to your family and others? All because I’m going to
heaven.....and it will feel like hell to get there.
Ride like hell and you’ll get there. Same with living. Jesus told his
disciples to watch, to be ready. For we don’t know what lies ahead, but
fortunately God knows. From his viewpoint on the top of the mountain, he sees
all the traffic on the road. He sees the gravel, the oncoming traffic, and he
sees the speed trap. How differently we ride when we know what lies ahead,
forgiveness is a great thing, not having to be forgiven even better. Jesus
likens this example to a man going on a journey, for us a ride. He has given us
responsibilities to do, coulda, shoulda, and woulda are poor excuses for sin.
In every life we will face a Yarnell Hill, with different results. Think of
life as prerunning for a life in heaven, we win the race here over sin, we have
a podium finish, lose here, you don’t want to know. But have been warned.
Something to consider when praying for Jesus to come back now. Five minutes
before you were saved would have meant hell and damnation. Brett might have
made in down the hill first, but it cost him. Don’t make the same
mistake.
And just to let you know, coming back and going up Yarnell Hill, he
followed the rest of the pack. He wasn’t going to be fooled again. We all made
it, and over a Coke, decided to ride down and back again. Jesus tells us to
watch, one bad crash can leave that as the only alternative to life. Prerun
life in Jesus, see you at the bottom, or top. He’ll be waiting.....and like we
know when in a curve, keep leaning, and in life, keep leaning on Jesus. Don’t
wait until you overshoot a brake marker to see God.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com