Bike Week at Daytona Beach-Do I Belong

Well it’s Bike Week in Daytona Beach, FL. Half a million bikes and numerous cars. Traffic is busy, every restaurant has lines, grocery stores are packed by campers and in general the usual lazy towns take on a frenzy that is hard to explain unless you have been here. Traffic lights and intersections are often snarled. But, there are lots of colorful lights, the roar of motorcycles everywhere and some great people to meet and many of bikes that have the same incredible character as their owners. Saw an Indian Chief today with a guy that was wearing a wolf’s head and pelt. Always interesting to see someone wearing only "paint on" clothes. The excitement and planning for Daytona and all surrounding towns coming to fruition for ten days. It’s interesting to see the response of both the locals and the riders. For the most part there is respect between everyone but, occasionally, there is that explosion of temper when someone feels slighted by the other.

Of course, there is the requisite motorcycle ministries and causes in the areas. I saw Bikers for Christ (BFC), Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA), a few local motorcycle ministries, Tribe of Judah (TOJ), Hellfighters and Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), Dry Riders are here and even a few Bikers Against Drunk Driving (BADD). On street corners in Deltona there were signs about going to hell, preachers with fiery messages and pamphlets being given out warning against the evils that surround. Patches on vests from loving Jesus to DILLIGAF to Tombstones in memory of someone. Patches supporting vets, supporting causes and one patch said, “if you’re reading this patch, get a life.” I have “loud pipes save lives” on my vest and any of you that have heard the hardtail know what that means. My favorite patches are the one that says, “40 grand and 40 miles doesn’t make you a biker” and one worn by BFC that says, “Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” That is a quote by C.T. Studd who was a minster born in 1860 and died in 1930.

I have seen posts on Facebook by some pastors condemning those that attend and I have seen posts by pastors condemning other pastors for not going out amongst the people to witness. In short depending on who you listen to, you could either be condemned for going or condemned for not going. You can either be a witness among the heathen or a part of the heathen that live a life of hedonism because of the biker world and all that it entails.

Yesterday we saw at least three accidents but there were several places we saw flashing blue lights. One who was obviously going too fast and didn’t make the turn. Saw him sitting along the bank being attended by EMTs. Two were bikers down at an intersection the cause unknown. The last one was the most disturbing. Couple bikes looked to have collided and there was luggage and parts strewn across the road. Didn’t see the riders as there were four ambulances present with a lot of police and personnel. At each one, I said a prayer for each of the accidents praying that the injuries weren’t too severe and that there were no fatalities. I obviously didn’t close my eyes and bow my head. Sure, the Lord was going to listen anyway. Since I was on the bike, He wasn’t going to hold me to the traditional prayer style that most people hold to.

What I learned yesterday was that there is a set of beliefs that people have and to understand that stereotyping comes in many forms. Because I was riding the "ministries" wanted to put a pamphlet in my hand even though I said several times “thank you but I don’t need that.” Some folks saw the Tallahassee Biker Church patch on my shirt and were wary. Others engaged in conversation and others just wanted to talk bikes, parts, chrome and wheels. What I learned was simply this, “spending time with people and learning about them and their world is the way that we provide a witness to the world.

We don’t need to preach, we don’t need to press, we don’t need a cause, a purpose of “our way that is better than the other group.” We don’t need to be in leather to meet bikers and we don’t need to have on a cowboy hat and carry a 35lb bible to get our point across. We don’t need to have every stitch of clothing we wear scream biker or have the HD symbols on it.

We need to be in a place we are comfortable in developing relationships with others. Running to a pit of vipers doesn’t make us courageous if we go unequipped or lacking in knowledge. Just like running in to a place that has a formal dress code doesn’t make us courageous if we don’t understand the world. There is no right or wrong in how we witness. Being in the world means being a place we can be effective. If you aren’t a biker, the clothes won’t make you fit in. Neither will be learning the language or learning tire and wrench sizes will make us a mechanic in the motorcycle world.

I met a guy yesterday who was a certified Harley mechanic. In fact, his friend said, “he is the oldest certified Harley Mechanic in the US.” He impressed me because he was fascinated by the way the BMW was built. He was asking questions and wanting to know about the mechanics of the bike. He looked up under the Tupperware to see the steering mechanism. He didn’t try to impose his knowledge of Harley’s on me. He came with the attitude that I don’t know and want to know about you and why you ride this bike. We had a great conversation. That is the core of being a good witness. It isn’t about your knowledge, your beliefs, your cause or what you can tell me about my life. It’s about learning about the other person. Showing respect, caring and asking them about their life.

I can quote scripture but there is a time and place for that. I can wear patches but not all things are built around those things. Like I said above, having everything Harley won’t make you a Harley rider. Wearing everything Jesus or about the ministry we are in, won’t make us a better witness. It’s all about the heart. What has value is being in the place that you feel you need to be or called to be. Getting to know and be a part of that world that God has set before you. Listening intently, asking others about their lives and being open to learning from others even though we may be an expert in a certain area in our life. Going someplace because you feel guilty about not being there when someone else says you need to is listening with the wrong heart. Best example I give is if you don’t have the heart for homeless, you don’t belong there.

God places in our heart the desire to do things and thank goodness he doesn’t give us all the same heart or we would be in a bigger mess than we are now. I will interject that the desires of your heart can change over time and the challenge is to see if it is God changing that heart or your own desire to do something. If the calling seems all about you, rethink that calling. If the desire is all about you, rethink that desire. If you do it because you should and not because you are feeling called, rethink that process. If you do it to buy cooler clothes, talk cooler or be different, it may be about you and not about the witness.

You all have a great week. Peace

Preach

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