Thoughts from a Motorcycle

On my study leave I got to take my motorcycle out to east Texas. As I was riding early one morning, enjoying the quiet, the fresh air, and the many trees that lined the road; it dawned on me how “Comfortable” I was, and then I remembered what I was like when I picked up motorcycle riding in 2003 after 25 years of not riding. When I got on the bike I consistently asked God to keep my safe, help me not kill myself, and to guide my ability. But on this East Texas morning I had not done that. Why? Because these last few years I have learned to ride well, gained competence and skill, and began to trust in my own learned ability. I was much less conscious of how much I still needed God for everything, to keep me safe, help me not kill myself, and guide my ability. I repented and and asked God to forgive and keep me safe despite my arrogance. As we serve God in the church and in all of life, as we life, work, love, try to make good choices I think the exact same thing often happens. We learn how to do the things we must do, even how to be realitively good Christians. Some of the things that once filled us with fear and trepedation no longer bring us to our knees, asking God for help. We find ourselves simply going through the motions of life without the relationship with God we used to have and without the spiritual undergirding that is so important. We become comfortable with our life habits and skills and leave God out more than we intend. Jesus had a deep peace, but I don’t think He ever became comfortable as he faced the challenges of His life. Bruce Wilkinson whe led Back to the Bible for many years, and also wrote the best seller The Prayer of Jabez spoke of a time of depression and burnout. In reponse to this season of his life he went to see a pastoral counselor in California. The advice was simple, “Bruce, you have competent in what you do and you have always been talented; you have learned to trust this competence and talent more than God, unlike when you began your ministry and asked God for help in everything, and it is killing you”.(Paraphrase) A huge part of being a spiritual person, I believe is constantly being dependent upon God, walking with Jesus, seeking the Holy Spirit, asking God for help and guidance in everything. When we substitute competence and habits for God, we are headed for a fall. We either began to seek God again, or we add greater callings and change in our lives from God that require us to ask for help. If you are feeling “Comfortable” with your competence and life, as I did on the motorcycle, its time to get a little scared again and venture into serious prayer as we share the life and death work together of following Jesus Christ, an adventure with far greater consequences and rewards that just the life and deat adventure on a motorcycle.