RONNIE and EMILY’S
CHRISTIAN MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION There is nothing quiet as spontaneous as mounting up on your bike and going for a ride. You have a total freedom of where you will go, what route you will take, and how much time you will spend getting some wind therapy. If you want, you can simply get up and go, with literally no set plans, but a mountain of freedom. Having led several rides in the past as Road Captain for the day, I am aware of the planning and responsibility that is involved; you are responsible for the group’s safety. You may choose to share the route and the final destination, especially if some members of the group have GPS, as a backup. I have even seen a Road Captain print out turn by turn directions for the riders. Some may think this to be overkill, until something goes wrong! We can all try to be safe and ride together while observing traffic signals, but sometimes things don’t always work out. One of the biggest challenges faced while group riding is part of the group getting split by a long traffic light. I have witnessed numerous approaches to solving that issue, some better than others. One ride I was on did fine for about 3 miles, and then the large pack of bikes was split by a very long traffic light. The
Road Captain likely did not realize we were missing as our groups reunited about 45 minutes down the road. Good thing we had a few riders that knew how to get to the destination. The best example of solving missing riders is often used, finding a parking lot or a closed business. We can pull over to wait and watch for the missing riders, and then be able to pick up and continue the ride. Rather than feel left out by our leader and the disappearing group, we knew that they were pulled over somewhere up ahead and waiting and watching for us. It gave us a wonderful peace and positive expectations in that situation! In the Bible story about the parable of the lost son, the wayward son was seeking his way home after having wasted away his inheritance. In Luke 15:20 it says, “But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck.” We can see that the father was not only watching for his son’s return, but upon seeing the boy coming home the father ran out to meet him. The father had compassion and expressed his joy in the reunion! This passage shows how God wants to see us come to Him, and that He will welcome us to Him. Finally, God wants to celebrate when we come to Him. This passage shows God’s watching for us, like the father waiting for the son, and like a split ride coming back together. If you’ll just call to God, He’ll call to you. In the Wind, Denny Dingler
Check out BornToRide.com for more articles from Christian Motorcyclists Association
BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 53
