FULL POTENTIAL

Devotional By Dennis Reynolds

In March of 2021 it was my pleasure to purchase a beautiful, yellow and silver, 2005 Screamin’ Eagle Electra Glide from a lifelong friend. While he had bought the motorcycle brand new, he had not ridden it very much because he owned several other bikes. At sixteen years old, the Screamin’ Eagle was still in good condition, and only had 848 miles on the odometer. Yes, I said 848 miles! I named her Miss Frances after the previous owner’s mom.

When I brought Miss Frances home, I set about doing a few things to her. I dislike fairing lowers, so as soon as she rolled off the trailer, I removed them from the highway bars. The tires still looked brand new but they were sixteen years old, so naturally, they needed to be replaced. The gas tank had some rust inside, the fuel filter was gunky, and the fuel pump had gone bad from lack of use, so those things had to be addressed.

After the initial work, a full service, and a fresh tank of gas, I started her up and she ran like a top!

Fast forward to November of 2022. Every year, a group of brothers and myself take a ride from Greenwood South Carolina to Galveston TX for the Lone Star Rally. Now, for most of my road trips, my motorcycle of choice is my 2015 Street Glide Special. The NAV system along with other modern conveniences make touring simple and easy. This year however, I was toying with the idea of riding Miss Frances to Texas.

Now keep in mind, it has some 2005 quirks. The five-speed transmission and five-gallon tank weren’t a big deal, but the lack of antilock brakes and the skinny back tire made me a bit nervous, especially where wet weather was concerned. Still, I committed to riding Miss Frances to the rally, and prepared for the trip.

There were absolutely no issues, and I had a great ride there and back. Since that road trip went so well, I decided to take her to DC the following May for Rolling to Remember. As before, she was flawless and there were no problems.

When I arrived at home after the DC trip, I pulled my garage door closed, and stepped over to look at her odometer. Two years after I purchased what some people would consider a barn find, Miss Frances had gone from 848 miles to a little over 11,000. There would have been even more miles on her if I didn’t own two other motorcycles as well.

Looking at her mileage made me think.

The day she rolled off the assembly line, she was the finest, top of the line, touring machine Harley Davidson produced in 2005. Then, for most of her first sixteen years, she sat in a garage covered up. She was taken care of, and her owner loved her, but she was built for touring and not sitting. Until now, she had never reached her full potential, and when she did, she shined!

Full Potential…

Just like those Harley Davidson engineers had cross country touring in mind for the Screamin’ Eagle Electra Glide from day one, when God designed each of us, he had a specific purpose in mind.

Then, just as that motorcycle sat covered up for years and never achieved her intended purpose, we may have wasted precious time living life our own way. We may have spent years ignoring the God ordained direction He intended for us when he oversaw our creation. Miss Frances would have wasted away and wound up as scrap metal if she had not been given that second chance to shine. In that same way, if we live our lives only for ourselves and not for Jesus, we are destined for eternal separation and destruction. But, we too have another chance!

Are you living out your full potential for Jesus? Are you embracing the plan He has for your life? If not, what are you waiting for? Take hold of Jesus' hand today, because now it’s YOUR turn to shine!

You will never regret it!

Ephesians 2:10 NIV “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Ride on and stay safe, Dennis Reynolds

Mideast Regional Elder

Bikers for Christ M/M

The second Friday of July each year.

National Motorcycle Day celebrates the positive impact riders have on communities!

Read more on page 22

Who Founded National Motorcycle Day?

After 50 years of watching the positive contributions riders provide to their local communities, a motorcycle insurance company felt it was important to highlight this philanthropy and contribution.

As a result, the second Friday in July was chosen as the day to celebrate all the good in motorcycle culture.

The state of Wisconsin provided a citation in 2016 awarding the first ‘official’ Day for motorcyclists.

How Can I Observe National Motorcycle Day?

This is an excellent opportunity to get involved by going on your first ride or taking your favorite bike out for good old-fashioned fun!

National Motorcycle Day spirit is that of giving back. Look for opportunities to participate in a local charity ride, organize a group to volunteer at a local non-profit, or help a neighbor in need.

In addition to riding and contributing positively to your community, you can observe National Motorcycle Day by using the hashtag #NationalMotorcycleDay across social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

What are Other Notable Motorcycle Holidays?

National Motorcycle Day isn't the only day dedicated to celebrating the motorcycle community.

National Motorcycle Ride Day

Dedicated to the comradery that joins all bikers, National Motorcycle Ride Day (not to be confused with National Motorcycle Day) has been celebrated on the second Saturday of October since 2015.

National Ride to Work Day (NRWD)

Andy Goldfine, the founder of a biking safety apparel brand, started the informal National Ride to Work Day (NRWD) in 2000. Every year on the third Monday of June, you can participate in the National Ride to Work Day.

The Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus and press sources reported that as of the early 2010s, NRWD was the largest motorcycle event, reaching upwards of one million participants.

The event is observed worldwide, including in Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Slovenia, Israel, Turkey, Ecuador, Argentina, and the Philippines.

International Female Ride Day (IFRD)

Celebrated on the first Saturday of May since 2007, International Female Ride Day® (IFRD), has participants from over 120 nations.

World Motorcycling Day

Celebrated on the longest day of daylight in the northern hemisphere, the summer solstice, there's no better day to celebrate as a motorcycle rider than June 21st each year.

What are the Benefits of Motorcycle Riding?

Whether you’re looking to save money, reduce your carbon footprint, or just want a fun way to get around town, motorcycles are an excellent choice. Motorcycles are often more fuel efficient than cars, they're easier on the environment because they produce less pollution, and they require far less space in parking lots.

Riding a motorcycle can be much cheaper than owning a car if you keep it long-term—not just because gas is cheaper but also because insurance and maintenance costs may be lower.

But these advantages aren't just for those who must use motorcycles as their primary mode of transportation—they're also great for anyone who wants to use their bike as a second vehicle or even as a primary vehicle on occasion.

Whether commuting to work every day or heading out for some weekend adventures with friends or family members, motorcycling can help you connect with your community while getting from point A to point B quickly and easily.

www.insurance.harley-davidson.com/the-open-road/ events/national-motorcycle-day