Saturday has always been my favorite day, well almost always. To me it
marks the end of the week, a time to sleep in and then go riding. And for years
that was how it was with me, until I went to work for a motorcycle dealer. With
the exception of super stores in SoCal, Saturday has always been the end of the
week for them, closing on Sunday and Monday. But it was the working on Saturday
when all my friends were out riding, and many would stop in the shop along the
way that about drove me nuts. I was working while they were playing, how could
one day in the week make such a difference? So Saturday became my Friday, my
Sunday my Saturday, but Monday would still be Monday, a six day a week work
week. But the ride on Saturday was the one thing I missed, and I could never
understand being closed on Monday also. Break something on Saturday, need some
chain lube or a face shield, gotta wait till Tuesday. Which meant no riding for
those off Monday and Sunday. Many stores still adhere to the Sunday/Monday
schedule, the old gone riding message still in many shop windows. For those of
us who worshipped at the Saturday ride, ride on Sunday, closed on Monday was a
reality. Saturday should be the weekend, but then someone has to take care of
us on those days....any volunteers?
So in my semi-retirement era I still like Saturday morning rides, which
have a different flavor than my weekday ones. With only one day or maybe two to
ride, they must get in all the riding they can, so places like Palomar, The Rock
Store, Cook’s Corner, and other meeting places are full, with riding limited, as
the police know this too. But during the week when I visit these places, no one
is there, and so I pass, on both visits. I haven’t visited the Rock Store in
years, too many squids which brought the police, and years back at Alice’s one
side of the road was Harleys, where just across the street was lined with sport
bikes. The two not mixing, go figure. Two elitist groups who both ride, just
the brand is different. Both want to look cool, only one has the speed
potential, along with handling. But it is Saturday man, one day a week cannot
we not agree on one thing, we all ride? So many Saturday rides are shorter,
where less traffic is found, and new roads are found, where only cars are out to
get you. I guess they need Saturday too...if only they showed us some respect.
What a wonderful world this would be....
For race fans it will always be win on Sunday, sell on Monday, for those of
ride it is ride on Sunday, closed on Monday. But everyone needs a day off, why
not Tuesday or Wednesday, again any volunteers? But there was a time when
Saturday was worship day, and then Jesus came along, making Sunday the first day
of the week, and the day the church would meet, since its new beginning. Like
our journey in Christ from sinner to saved, day begins in the dark and is
transformed into day, as the light appears. This weekend many who follow, or
are talked into gong to church, will hear of the resurrection of Jesus. For
some the Good Friday crucifixion is Easter, but without his resurrection, his
ultimate promise for us, he would have been just another casualty. But as it
is, his empty tomb on that Sunday morning began life anew for us, and the day of
worship changed. No longer in darkness, but in light, as it was early morning
when they discovered the empty tomb, the sign of his promise kept. Jesus
changed all things, from meeting Nicodemus at night in secrecy, to him now
buying the tomb with Joseph of Arimithea, from hiding to public view. Jesus
never hid who he was, on Easter the world will declare who he was, but do we
believe the next day who he is? Is the tomb empty on Sunday, and our lives on
Monday? Did we buy Jesus on Sunday, but close up on Monday? Is the one day the
world celebrates Jesus all the time you spend with him, all you know about him?
Like my weekday rides, I need Jesus more than on Sunday, more than meeting with
those for worship. Bike shops may close, churches do too, but Jesus never
does. How many churches will have extra staff on Monday for those to inquire,
or was Sunday enough? Where will the newly saved go for answers, wait till
Tuesday, or until next Sunday? A lot can happen in one week, look at the last
week of Jesus, will your church be open the next day? Will you? Some things
cannot wait a week....but can we wait three days for him to be resurrected in
our lives?
Saved on Sunday, back to work Monday. How will you describe your first
Easter with Jesus? The devil is just waiting to pounce on the new unprotected
ones, he goes after the weak, who will intervene? You? Me? Or do you have
enough faith in your rebirth to act? Jesus asked his disciples “couldn’t you
stay awake just one more hour?” Can we? It may surprise the church community,
but many are saved and the gospel goes forth outside the four walls, Jesus said
“as you go among the people,” are you? Is your heart as open the day after as
it is on Easter? If not, why? What part of Jesus are you at odds with? Or
have you found that any day to ride is better than no day to ride? And any time
with Jesus is better than just an hour once week, or year? The spirit is
willing, the flesh is weak, do you approach Jesus the same way you do riding?
Easter happens every day in the day of a true believer, a day to celebrate being
resurrected, just like Jesus was. Take some time today and ponder who he is,
ask him along on your ride, a broken bike may have to wait until Tuesday, a
broken life doesn’t have to wait for next week. We have a lot of riding and
living to do in between. Saturday may mark a new weekend, but Sunday can mark a
new life in Christ. As for me, any day that ends in Y is a good day to ride,
and to know Jesus.
Happy Resurrection Day, and the days after too.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com