When my friend’s wife allowed him to get back into riding, he wanted a
Kawasaki ZX14, all 150 horsepower of it. Finding one at the local store where
they knew me, they agreed to let me test ride it for him. How could I say no?
So on an unusual morning with no traffic on the 78, I opened it up, into the rev
limiter in second and wide open in third, before coming up on a 55 mph curve,
and no time to slow. So in my best Kenny Roberts knee dragging imitation, I
leaned, and kept leaning, and the bike did its thing. Without a shimmy or
shake.....the last time I had looked at the digital speedo it said 121, what a
rush. Nowhere will you ever find an app for that!
The three of us had taken off early, on a lightly travelled road Bouke knew
in Jersey. On his Z-1 he led, followed by me on my R90S, and BH on is Dunstall
750 Honda. Three young and crazy,and fast guys, when looking in my mirror, all
I could see was flashing lights and grill of a State Patrol car. Looking at
Bouke, he nodded and we took off, easily outrunning the cop, but after a few
miles stopping, still not faster than the radio. And Bouke was unusually edgy,
seems he had a plate from an old Triumph on his bike, and of all things he knew
the cop. Who it turned out was a captain in the Jersey State Police, it didn’t
look good. But the Captain’s opening line took us all by surprise...pointing at
BH, “that thing is fast, that BMW is unreal, but that Z is a rocket!” He
rides! And after writing us all a ticket for improper registration, in his
words,” I called it in, I have to write something,” took off, giving us his
business card, for emergencies. Talk about a rush! But after, Bouke confided
in me, he knew the captain, and was a bit scared. He was a witness when another
friend killed his brother in a mercy killing, and guess who was the
investigating officer. A landmark case then and now, no wonder he was freaking
out. A guess being stopped at 111 was no big deal after that. Try to find an
app for that!
Saturday morning on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a great ride but with a 45 mph
speed limit. Until meeting a local at a rest stop, who had a Sprint ST like
mine. “Follow me,” he invited, “this is my back yard.” And so with Theresa
hanging on, we raced, using his lines and braking markers down this surreal road
for 45 miles. He pulled off with a wave, we went on....a chance of a lifetime
behind us. Ain’t no app for that!
Or the night BH and I stayed out too late, and ended up with no place to
stay. Riding faster wasn’t the cure, and at 2 am we were pulled over by a
county sheriff. While he looked at our licenses with his flashlight, suddenly a
chopper flew by us, catching air,and with a helmetless rider. Handing us back
our license, he said “here, wait for me, I’ll be right back,” and took off after
the chopper. Looking at each other, as soon as he was out of sight, we took off
the other way! No app for what had just happened that night.....
And so we ride on, not knowing what the road ahead has in store for us.
But there is a store on your i-phone, where you can have an app for almost
everything. From dating to farming to fashion to riding, all you need is to
download their app for instant gratification. Without ever leaving your i-phone
world. Virtual reality, close but not really real, has become a go to for
many. A way to satisfy the emotional or physical urge or need at any given
time, just a 5” screen away. And give a merchant an opportunity to sell you
something he tells you that you need. Not having a cell phone, I have yet to
fall into the trap, but I watch those that do, and it seems anything I look up
on line has an app tied to it. Which may be a quick fix for bike parts, or a
kind word, but when the spiritual is addressed via app, I can see problems.
There is no way eve virtual reality can wire into all your emotions like reality
can, and some carry that faux reality into religion. The right verse app,
if not the one you need, sign up for more. Read a pastor’s book, and after a
few pages, buy it to complete it. Don’t like the webmaster’s take on Jesus,
Google it again, all the time seeking self satisfaction, all without the benefit
of the holy spirit. Devised by man, supplied by man, but never a substitute for
Jesus, never. Yet for all those who fight wars via video games, go off the
track and hit the rest button to start again, and all those with a sound byte
relationship with God, they miss out on the reality of who Jesus Christ is. But
apps are nothing knew to God, for when he created us, he left a hole in us that
only he could fill, revealed to us and then fulfilled by his spirit. No limit
on what we can do in Christ, or beyond our pocket book. The gospel is free so
we can afford it, and simple so we can get it. Even the packaging is simple, he
writes it on our heart. Truly he is always with us, ever leave home without
your heart? So is there an app that can satisfy like Jesus....
Many will fall short, not trusting him, thinking that the apps are all
there is. Again based on man, not God. Created by man, the creation, not the
creator. For you see Jesus goes way beyond emotion, way beyond physical
satisfaction, he includes a spiritual satisfaction found no where else. A rush
that cannot be described, a peace beyond comparison, and a friend who stands by
you, never leaving. Why settle for technology when you can have spiritual
reality? No app needed, just Jesus, and you can have him right now. Google
Jesus and you get some weird ideas, seek him and you get the truth of who he
is. And even the shipping is free...keep you VISA in your wallet! He doesn’t
want it or need it! If your church, your denomination, your pastor has an app,
does it also have a place to donate? Jesus doesn’t, he wishes to give. And you
cannot out give him!
Today we will all come up short, if only for a moment emotionally, a
physical need will face us, and where do we turn? Before technology, before
Google, before the app world, there was Jesus, and after they fade away, there
still will be Jesus, all you need in one package. Nothing to download, no
Instagram to brag, just Jesus. When pictures fail, words cannot describe, and
feelings are coming apart, there will always be Jesus.
No matter what you ride, how fast you have been, or the horsepower you
have, there will always be someone who will outdo you. God offers the supreme
test, hang on a cross for everyone’s sins. Any takers? But we can partake in
his resurrection if we believe and trust in him. And unlike the sheriff who we
didn’t wait for......we look forward to his return. There is no app for
salvation, for heaven, for a personal relationship with God. No quickie nirvana
to heaven. Man plans, Apple sells. God plans, and the price is paid. Want a
rush, try Jesus. There will never be an app like him! Before Facebook he
friended you, not all rushes come from twisting the throttle!
If your life is like a ride on the dyno....you can have joy stick or
joy.....I think I need a ride.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com