Somehow I managed to ride over 1600 miles in January, despite no press
bikes and rain, lots of it. Today there is a break in the weather, a sunbreak
as Portlandians call it, and then scheduled rain for the next 10 days, with
highs only in the fifties. Weather is actually better in New Jersey, per my
mother last Saturday, will true bikers move there next year for the weather? I
have had to spend way too much time in my rain car, a Nissan Xterra, and in
between riding my rain bike, the Tiger 955. Even as far as canceling a ride to
Central California this weekend, 3-5 inches of snow where we planned to ride,
and the Orange County Vintage Bike Meet only drew 18 bikes yesterday, could this
be the end of the world as we know it? I guess it is February after
all.....
I may be weird, a good argument either way, but as I go into the garage I
sense a loneliness coming from the direction of my bikes. All the cleaning has
been done, chain adjusted, batteries topped off, and bolts checked, they just
sit waiting to go riding, which they should be doing. But they sit, and every
time the garage door opens, I swear they lean towards the light of day, hoping
this is the day they get out and go riding again. A relationship has been built
with them over the years and miles, but it seems new bike sales and their bikes
are lonely too. Pricing a 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS at numerous dealers, the out the
door prices vary from $9465, to $10,379, to over $11,000, all for the same
bike. Seems some owners are lonelier for the cash than they are to make any
profit, and not have to pay flooring on them. But every place I have been, it
seems whenever the door opens, the bikes seem to pick up and want to head for
the door. They were designed to be ridden, and when they aren’t somehow things
aren’t right. Is your bike lonely? What are you doing to rekindle the
relationship?
Ecclesiastes warns us to guard your steps when you go into the house of the
Lord. Just as many enter our hallowed garages, we expect something, and when we
don’t get it, our mood changes, affecting our thoughts and then our actions.
Same as when we gather in fellowship to worship Jesus. How many enter church
expecting to be taught? To be healed? To get closer to God? To have questions
answered? Or is it just a Sunday ritual, like going for a ride in only nice
weather when your wife lets you? Even worse some go to church expecting to get
the things of God from the church, and falling for misconceptions,
denominational issues, or as going from church to church a different take on
Jesus. Do you guard your steps as God instructs, maybe to the point of becoming
a bored again Christian, or a safe Christian, maintaining a low profile with God
so as to not annoy others. Have we become callous to the things of God by
trying to not upset others by the truth of the gospel? Are messages just filled
with good words but no spiritual influence? Do you leave exhausted after an
hour because your sleep was interrupted a few times? Do we go to church, or do
we know we are the church? Are you sitting lonely in a pew of your own, with
others in the same situation? The truth may surprise you, only the truth of
Jesus Christ will set you free.
God wants us to listen carefully and not complain, he never said he who as
a mouth let him speak, he said he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit is
saying. It has not been a fun January as riding has been curtailed, and our
house has been sick. But in both I have seen God, he reminded me of how I am
miraculously alive when I should be dead. How my prayers change when the
weather does, and how lonely he gets for me when I am busy only dealing with
me. God loves to hear from us, hence he created prayer, but it is a
conversation, a dialogue not a monologue. We both engage in listening and
speaking, but how many times we let the spirit start our prayers? Ever feel
void and not know how or what to pray? The spirit does, many times an amen to
what God shows me is enough prayer, other times I am like the bikes in my garage
on rainy days, I just walk past him dodging the raindrops he has sent. Are we
bold enough to ask Jesus “thy will be done?” Only to be reminded how the rain
falls on the just and the unjust alike.
So my bikes have been sitting lonely, but I haven’t in my time with God. He
is preparing me for things to come, maybe getting me to refocus my mind, a
regeneration that is needed often. So if your bike is lonely, what are you
doing about it? But better yet, if your spiritual life is lonely, what are you
doing about it? God got the world’s attention via a storm in Noah’s day, are
these warning signs as the Jews believe? Are they clever political plans to get
you to sell your soul or vote to them? Or do you know that each day is a gift
from God? It is in the times of distress and trouble we seek God more, maybe he
is lonely for us. Start a conversation with him today, talk to him and enjoy
all the conversation. One afternoon spent telling him about a ride I once took
brought us closer together as I saw his hand in the beauty of it, and also in
the telling him of it. Fathers like to hear from sons, sons need to spend more
time with their fathers. Your heavenly father is lonely for you, so he sent
Jesus to reunite us with him. Maybe that loneliness in the garage is really God
reaching out to you in a language you know best. Could it be that really your
bike isn’t lonely it is you? And only in Jesus will that loneliness be lifted.
Time spent with Jesus is always time well spent. Stop complaining and
start enjoying the times he has created for you. In all things give him the
preeminence, for in all situations his wisdom is being poured forth. This too
shall pass is a great promise from the scriptures. Don’t look back saying “I
wish I had used my time better.” I’m preparing for the next sunny day so I can
ride, don’t you be left out because you misspent your time. My attitude towards
me and the weather has changed this week, but only because I could spend more
time alone with God. For in every storm he is there, you are never alone. I
hope my bikes understand that, I hope you do too.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com