Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma/Arkansas November 2014 | Page 32

RIDING ON FAITH

The black streak of my Harley was pushing 95, as I sailed
down the desolate highway on the wings of the wind. I had
traveled to Arkansas to attend a biker event, but stopped by my
daughter’s for a visit. My visit extended beyond it’s scheduled
time, and I was riding into the late afternoon sun descending
over the western skies of Oklahoma.
Autumn was evident across the country, not only in its
beauty. Pumpkin stands with jack-o-lanterns, haunted houses,
and witches on brooms evidenced the upcoming celebration
of Halloween. They brought back memories of mischievous
boyhood pranks that had extended into a lifestyle of fast
motorcycles, anger fists, a fearlessness soul, and alcohol
driven roguish behavior. I had lived the image, and I loved it.
After all, wasn’t that what a real man was. Nearing the end of
the speed zone, I shook my head, as if to clear my thoughts
of my 40+ year childhood.
As I throttled up to 80, I watched the magenta sun leave
it’s high position, to kiss the face of the earth. It kept peeking
in and out through the array of vividly colored autumn trees. I
could not help but believe that autumn appears in such splendor
to let the earth and all of her dwellers know that nature would
be shutting down to prepare once again for the new birth of

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Thunder Roads Magazine of OK/AR

spring. Isn’t that what Jesus did, died for our new birth? It’s
amazing that the whole universe bows to the direction of the
Creator, everything but man. He created us with love and a
purpose. He died that we might have eternal life, giving each
of us the choice of our eternal destination.
In awe, I watched God order the brilliant oranges, pinks
and purples of the sunset to embrace the sinking sun and
expand into the breathtaking displays of color that the skies
of Oklahoma produce day after day in new colors and beauty.
Truly the universe proclaims the awesomeness of God.
At dusk, I could feel the coolness of the air creep into the
breeze with the absence of the overhead sun. My response
to a more imminent danger in darkness caused me to sit
straighter, heighten my awareness, tighten my grip and
assessing everything around me. The freedom of the open
road was the boyhood dream that I’ve been living. I had traveled
a long way with Christ in the past 20 years and come to better
conclusions. Undoubtedly, the decision made on my death
bed, was the wisest.
At that time the lights of the bike revealed something in
the road. I switched lanes, dodged the alligator trail left by an
18-wheeler. My thoughts turned to a question a friend had
recently asked me; “When you were near death, what made
you decide to choose God?’ I abruptly retorted, “Because I
knew, without a doubt, where I was going.” My friend returned
with, “So the literal hell was scared out of you?” “Yes,” I
replied, “I suppose that’s the truth.” The facts were, I had
come face-to-face with my destination.
My thoughts deepened, as I began assessing what and
why I was brought and held captive to a life of rebellion. Born
to be wild, rebellious and invincible, an image that defined me
and held me prisoner. Occasionally a slight thought of wrong
doing skipped through my mind. I assigned no responsibility
nor consequence for my own decisions. I was literally on the
highway to hell and recklessly exceeding the speed limit.
But my wisest decision came at the end of the road. With
95% of my survival chances gone and clinging to the final last
5%, the acute awareness and paralyzing fear brought with it a
final grasp for just one more chance. As I lost consciousness
in this world, I realized what a false and unrealistic image I
had bought into. What was the point I had to prove-- that I
was a “real man”? But, when the cold hard reality of death
confronted me, I quickly came to grips with the fact that God
had a different idea about a real man. I understood that God
had created men to be defenders, leaders, protectors. But I
was wrong. Zechariah 4:6 “…Not by