Have you ever shared a favorite road with a fellow rider only to be
disappointed or disgusted after riding it with them? Too fast, too many curves,
no cell service-and this is from sport bike guys who are in their one piece
leather and brag about riding Palomar. Too slow, not enough curves, my GPS says
we should have turned back there, and this from touring riders. Or you mean we
are going to ride 350 miles today? I’ll have to fill up twice! You mean we
won’t stop for lunch until after two, that will take me off my schedule. And
that and other excuses are the reason that I ride alone. Over the years taking
friends and others I know on great roads only to have them complain, I tell
these Goldie Locks half a sissy riders “I’m going alone.” And off I
go......
Over the years of doing crowd rides, you only go as fast as the slowest
person. You only take roads they feel safe on, and stay on freeways fighting
traffic. You may stop for 45 minutes for them to fill up, they only use a
certain brand of gas, will only eat certain foods, and ride with certain
brands. And brag to each other how challenging the ride was, and how they feel
so safe in the group. Missing out on the personal side of each ride, exercising
both mind and body while riding, eating where they want, filling up when they
need to, and going places not on the map. Sometimes grousing how they will
never do it again, until next week’s crowd ride. And the cycle-no pun intended,
continues....
Highway 25 in Central California is one of those roads best ridden alone.
Sixty miles of curves, braking from 100 to 20, scraping pegs in the technical
stretches, with elevation changes and no cell service. No gas in between so
fill up, no food, no stores. Just you and the road....a ride best done alone to
ride your own ride. Living in Durango we rode the Million Dollar Highway many
times. With many a first timer stopping to look, take pictures, rest because of
the elevation, and having to rest in Silverton before going over Red Mountain
and into Ouray. Again, best done alone. The Road to Escalante, Highway 12 is
no place for a group ride. Riding upon a road feeling like you are on top of
the world, some cannot keep up, some won’t. While some will wish they stayed
home with their GPS. And you will wish they had too....Highway 33 in Wisconsin,
421 in Oklahoma and North Carolina, 22 in New York State, 7 and 100 in Vermont,
the letter roads of Missouri, Loess Hills, pronounced Luss in Iowa, even the
locals don’t know about this one, roads in the Masabi Range in Minnesota, Lolo
Pass, Going to the Sun Road, Skyline Drive south of San Francisco, Gold Rush
Highway, Texas Hill Country, 50 across West Virginia, 555 and 800 in Southern
Ohio, 52 following the Ohio River in Indiana, and the list goes on. Each road
different, as each rider is. With so many roads and so little time to do them,
why mess them up with a crowd ride? Don’t we ride just to get away
sometimes....you see there are some who just own motorcycles, and then the rest
of us who love to ride them......
Riding like being a Christian is a personal thing. And we all need
encouragement along the way. Some brag on where the go to church, their study
habits, and ability to quote scripture, but like the slow guy on the fast bike,
don’t enjoy the ride. Trying to keep up with studies, it has become a burden,
and when it becomes too much, leave the church, and sadly sometimes put Jesus on
hold. I have learned to be compassionate and sensitive to other’s struggles,
but find many times they are self inflicted. And just need Jesus without all
the religion man burdens us with. How sad that Christians have a reputation for
killing their own wounded, when we tell others about God’s love but fail to show
it. Just as there are some who only own a bike, some only own Jesus, a cross
around the neck, a bumper sticker, known by others at church. But when
confronted with a different road, one that threatens how they live, they go off
and after praying and God doesn’t answer the prayer the way they asked, go
shopping their problem too others, by passing the holy spirit. How many rough
roads I have ridden turned into beauty after a few miles of dirt, or a section
that had me cursing ever being on it? Does not Jesus tell us “in this life
there will be tribulation,” you won’t always get your way, but you can have
his! If only we can be encouraged in Christ during these times, what a
difference it would make.
And it does, as so many are full of the logos of God, the entire written
scriptures we call the Bible, but fail to connect with his rhema, the
individual holy spirit driven word given just for that time and situation. No
group or church ride, this is where we get personal with Jesus, his will not
ours, until our will is his will. What a difference in the ride and the
relationship. Yet too many seek the safety within the crowd, never reaching out
to the individual who can save and heal. Jesus is a road to ride alone, and
driven by his spirit to fellowship with others. Real Christians don’t just go
to church, we are the church, and wherever two or three are gathered in his
name, he is present. And since you are given his spirit upon salvation, and his
promise to never leave you, you are never alone, and always with the perfect
prayer partner. You may ride alone, but you are never alone, for he is always
with you!
Maybe one of the times I learned this was spending an afternoon telling
Jesus all about rides I had taken. He had as much fun hearing as I did telling,
he had been along and remembered them too. Nothing religious here, just two
friends talking and spending time together. Do you know Jesus like that? Would
you like to? Listen to what the spirit is saying, he talks in a small voice,
but is always audible. Dare to ride alone with him, avoid the religious dogma
and crowd incited worship, and let him lead. If he can save, who better to
guide you? To know what you need, and to provide it? Let him speak loving
words to you that are good for the soul, that refresh and renew. We are all
just one moment away from one bad ride day, trust the Lord and see where he
takes you.
You see I didn’t mention 32 in Pennsylvania, 14 in New Mexico, the Mogollon
Rim, 23 in Arkansas, 7 in West Virginia, 101 on the Olympic peninsula, or riding
across the Yupper. When you get off mainstream religion and into Jesus, the
road choices only get better. Like 34 in Rocky Mountain National Park or
Highway 1 to Key West. There is so much more to Jesus than just religion...if
you only get out and let him lead. If you are nodding your head, you know, if
not, what are you waiting for? You see there is this short 20 mile stretch of
road between Santa Paula and Ojai, just calling my name.....let’s ride. With
Jesus.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com