I like hanging around with smart people, for there is so much to learn. Or
maybe be interested in is more accurate. Learning gives the impression that I
will have to use the lesson somewhere down the road, which involves studying,
never a strong point of mine, remembering, a quiz, and then a test to see how
much I didn’t know because I didn’t study enough. And then like any test, after
you take it, you go on to the next lesson and forget what you were tested on.
So maybe I like listening to interesting people instead of smart ones, the
definition of smart anyone who knows more than me, and interesting ones are
those who share my interests and I can learn more about them, AHHH, there’s that
word learn again.....
But over the years I have learned that the smartest people I know seem to
talk about things I don’t know, and have all the answers, as long as you ask the
right questions. Sound familiar.....I love touring on motorcycles, and love to
read about touring, but stay away from how to pack, which bike is best to tour,
which oil is best for riding across the desert, and which energy drink will do
me in. I like to ride, not micromanage every second that I have to get away,
yet I know guys who do. Again, do you wonder why we ride alone? Another friend
of mine is very learned, much smarter than me, not sure if that’s a compliment
or not, and if it can be read about, he can learn about it. He loves bikes,
knows all the specs, best accessories, and even minute data. But his wife won’t
let him have one, so his whole motorcycling experience is based on articles
written by others, who may or may not have done it either. In his reading he
has been everywhere, in his life only where a monthly article will take him. My
answer is like the tag line BMW, Harley, and Triumph have used over the years,
“why dream when you can ride?” Any bets there is any article about that
somewhere.....
Yet as kids all we could do was dream of our first, then our next
motorcycle. No matter how ratty, to us is shined like a new showroom model,
sure it leaked, had a few dents, and was down on power, with the standard answer
“they all do,” when confronted. But we kept dreaming while we were riding, the
clean pages being stained with grease and soon time spent dreaming was time
spent riding. All the specs we had memorized, all the best oil articles, and
which tires were the best all came down to the ride. And after all, isn’t the
ride what it is all about?
There was a time when I was all of the above, and then I just got out and
rode. Meeting the people who wrote the articles, giving them some credibility,
or passing on them altogether. Seems that going to the shows was fun, but it
was still all about the ride, plus knowing Mickey I had contacts just by hanging
in his shop. Where the truth would come out about a road test, or product
review, or what they really thought, not what they were coerced to write. And
suddenly my wide angle view came down to an 5x7 glossy of reality.....maybe
learning could be interesting, but never will it replace the ride itself.
Over the years I have attended many studies, retreats, teachings, services,
and prayer meetings. I have learned a lot, but when God spoke, man’s lessons
were over ridden, and my relationship with Jesus grew. He simply told me “if
the seat of your pants is wearing out faster than the soles of your shoes, you
have a problem.” I had lots of problems. So asking God for guidance and
forgiveness, I awoke to the things the spirit was showing me,and found people
didn’t care how much I knew, it was all abut how much I cared. Revealed to me
one night after a Bible study, led by a Brother Ivy, and then a few of us
hanging with him afterwards. He was a lot of show, and misled a few, me among
them, until he was giving us the gift of the holy spirit, not his to give, and
was pushing people to prove they now had it. Until he pushed me, and my
reaction was to push him back, and as he laid on his back in the circle on the
floor, he was suddenly revealed for what he was, and got up and left quietly.
Now I’ll wager his take on it was different, but I was there, and I knew then,
and still know now.
So why do we still study, still dream of the things of God but still settle
for less than Jesus? We get saved, but neglect his lordship. We attend on
Sunday and live like hell the rest of the week. Is Jesus just a lesson to live
by, some great stories for kids, or is he really who he says he is? Why trust
me or any other Christian writer when we have God’s own word, inspired by him,
and available to us? To give us life, for knowledge puffs up, you may know all
about David, but do you know when to give a hug? To shut up and listen? Have
you experienced Jesus or just know all about him? Lots of false teachers, false
prophets, and cults out there to mislead. Some learn all about knowing Jesus, I
have found knowing him, and how interesting he is, and how interested in me he
is cannot be beat. So why dream when you can ride? Why settle for an almost
Jesus, and find out that you almost only made it to heaven? But successfully
made it to hell....
Years ago when Packards were the ultimate automobile, a potential customer
wrote the factory for information. The reply he got became their motto, “Ask
the man who owns one.” Best reference is word of mouth, and all the bread of
life we ever need will proceed from the mouth of Jesus. So why not ask
him....invite him along on the ride of your life. Your testimony of how Jesus
changed your life is important, not just knowing but doing. Still
dreaming....be careful, it can be dangerous to wake up a sleep walker. If that
first time with Jesus is not as memorable as your first bike, maybe you need to
spend more time with him. Experience him face to face, and watch as your
interest grows in him,and bears interest, too. If you ever wonder why I am
smiling inside my Arai, maybe it is just part of a conversation between the two
of us, and he makes me smile. For Jesus like riding should be fun and should be
experienced. My t-shirts tell of my rides, what do yours say about yours? I
ride, what’s your story?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com