OCC Roadhouse 7 Days A Week

from Born To Ride #224 - Jan 2023

by Born To Ride TV & Magazine

Craven Moorehead Happy New Year

RONNIE and EMILY’S RONNIE and EMILY’S

CHRISTIAN MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION

How exciting it is to realize another year has gone, and there is a New Year full of hope and opportunity before us! We literally have a clean slate and a clean calendar; it is up to us to see what we will do with the upcoming 365 days. Looking back on rides, I can recall more than once someone cut me off in traffic, claiming they didn’t see the motorcycle. There were times when circumstances made it impossible to keep a commitment and some people felt I let them down. I’ve even had a few people look down their noses over clothes or even the bike I ride.

The common denominator in all of this is having a New Year with a new plan and a better attitude! Don’t know about you, but sometimes when I’m soaking up the miles and my mind jumps to some negative thoughts, the beauty and joy of the day is interrupted. I have to tell myself to take a mental time out and get my head back into the ride and the freedom it offers. You know, there is no reason to fire up the bike and get into the wind if you’re just taking a bunch of troubles with you, right?

What’s the answer? We have to forgive ourselves, forgive each other, and simply move on with life. I once heard a doctor say that we could “Get bitter or get better”, the only difference is in having a focus on the “e” not the “i”. In other words, take you eyes off yourself and look to everyone else. Whatever we focus our mind on determines the focus of our thoughts and lives. One thing I’ve learned is a strong answer to the problem of staying caught up in the past is to keep a short list. If I’ve accidently hurt, slighted, or cheated someone, I have to make it right and restore the relationship. Almost as importantly, if they’ve hurt or harmed me I need to be big enough to forgive them and get on with a smile on my face and in my heart. There just isn’t enough time in this life to waste over trivial “stuff” that attracts our minds. That way we can truly get better instead of getting bitter. Besides, when I’m bitter the one I am hurting is myself, and what’s the purpose of that?

There’s another area of forgiveness we must face, asking God to forgive us when we’ve failed to honor Him with our lives. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” That means if we turn away from our wrong actions, He’ll forgive us, and our relationship with Him is restored. If we confess, He’ll do the rest! Trust in Him and begin again, with a fresh start, a clean slate, and looking forward to a great year ahead!