RONNIE and EMILY’S
CHRISTIAN MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION Getting in the wind is a favorite pastime for bikers, there’s just no other experience that compares and offers such a sense of freedom. That being said, riders need to be ever-vigilant and pay a lot of attention to the traffic surrounding them. There is an old saying, “You can be dead right and still be dead wrong.” This can simply mean that even though you may have had the right of way in traffic, you can still end up as a traffic statistic. Even if there are no injuries, the whole day can be ruined by someone not paying attention to the road and causing an actual or near accident. There is also the issue of the sudden anger that such foolish driving causes, as well as the feeling of fury at the carelessness of someone not paying attention on the road. Last week I was driving a cage on a four lane road that had median cut-outs for U turns. As I approached the cut out I made note of a car trying to pull into the turnaround area in order to wait for the oncoming traffic. As I got closer to the intersection it became evident that the errant driver had no intention of stopping. As the car pulled into my lane of traffic I had to make an evasive maneuver, almost hitting the car on my right side. As the cars came to a complete stop, I have to admit that my blood
BTR 40 | BORNTORIDE.COM
momentarily began to boil at the dangerous and ignorant driving. Fortunately, I remembered a lesson from the past, and after several minutes I became able to settle down and forgive that driver for his terrible driving ability. The lesson I’d learned in the past was simply that I can hang onto my anger and let it control my day, or forgive the driver and regain a happy disposition. After all, in so many traffic incidences, the guilty party isn’t even aware that you exist, yet they have gained control of your day, and your attitude! This applies with cages or cars, and is possibly more important, for safety reasons, to bikes. In the Bible Jesus was asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?” Jesus answered, “. . . seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:2122. To my way of thinking this means unlimited forgiveness is the goal. Jesus Himself was the example, no matter what people did to Him, He forgave everyone. What would you rather have, an angry, unforgiving disposition, or a happy forgiving spirit. I know that none of us is perfect, that’s why we need Jesus, because He was perfect. With a happy, cheerful attitude you will not only feel better about others, you’ll feel better about yourself as well! Forgiveness is the key and happiness is the joy that can so easily be yours. The next time you want to get angry, just remember Jesus’ example. In the Wind, Denny Dingler
Check out BornToRide.com for more articles from Christian Motorcyclists Association
