There are basically two things that have occupied my time and energy during this time; I’ll tell you about the more temporal and frivolous first before moving on to the (ahem) spiritual and godly thing I’ve been about.

It all started with this one. One of my good friends – also a colleague – has a Harley- Davidson Fat Boy and has been after me to get one so we could ride. Early February of this year I found this ‘96 Vulcan 800 Classic for $3150 (4400 miles) and decided to go for it. I hadn’t ridden in 35+ years so I took a basic motorcycle safety class that was worth every penny I paid for it. I was licensed shortly after that and took off. That, happily, led to this:

My wife absolutely loves to ride with me on the motorcycle. It’s nothing for us to put three or four hundred miles on the bike during a good weekend (weather permitting, of course). We’ve discovered a lot of excellent country roads here in south central Texas – or wherever we are – and my wife, who is a very good photographer, has me stop whenever there’s a picture to be taken. In our 28 years of marriage there has never been anything we’ve so thoroughly enjoyed doing together – well, you know what I mean. We’ve also discovered some great places to eat, like:

Being Yankees ourselves, we love the idea of going to a biker bar in the heart of Texas named “Yankees Tavern.” Now, I’m no longer stupid enough* to drink, let alone drink and hop on a motorcycle. But the food at these kind of places is usually remarkably good, although it may just be that after swallowing bugs for the last 100 miles anything taste better. It was a little daunting, I must confess, to roll into one of these places with so many bikers: I’ve seen the shows documenting all the violence associated with biker gangs. After awhile, though, I came to realize that most of the riders there were just like me: fathers and professionals. There are no “gangs” at the places we frequent: if there were, we wouldn’t be there!

Inevitably (I suppose), the Vulcan 800 gave way to this:

I got this last Friday. It’s a 2006 Vulcan 1600 Classic; I was able to buy it (with just 1680 miles) for $7K. I didn’t feel completely safe when my wife and I were on the 800 and had to accelerate rapidly at higher speeds, so I knew I had to get a bigger bike. I never anticipated anything like this, though, and am still getting use to it. It’s all the bike I’ll ever need and is far safer than the other. Plus, it’s black. All motorcycles should be solid colors and dark. Pretty motorcycles are an oxymoron. I’m surprised at how differently it handles – especially at slow speeds – than the 800 and am also surprised at how much heavier it feels, although it’s only 150 pounds more. It weighs in at about 700 without passengers; with passengers it’s . . . more.

Here’s a couple of other views:

That’s another of my good friends – a local physician and former tennis adversary – on the back. I took him and his wife for rides – not at the same time! – last Sunday. Not being totally adjusted to the bike, I’m sure I scared the crap out of them, which was OK in his case but completely unintentional in hers. I’ll take them again in a few weeks when I’m better on the 1600.

This photo was taken in Montgomery, TX, last weekend. This time of year is great for riding.

I’m going to Ruidoso, NM, at the end of May: four of us are going to make the 650-mile trip and stay at one of the guys’ summer home in the mountains nearby. We’re planning on taking two days each way and then taking some day trips while we’re there. Sadly, my wife won’t be able to go; happily, I will! But I’d rather have her go, too.

Oh, the other thing? I’ll post about it very soon.

*I drank enough before I was a believer to last me until the age 78 years, 7 months, and 18 days.

A man appeared to me in my dream and his appearance struck fear into my heart: he had the appearance of a Navy SEAL and his countenance was fierce and grim. I fell to my knees, trembling. He lifted me with his strong right arm and said, ‘Do not fear, for I am here to protect you and warn you, and to show you terrible things that have been done against the Lord and His creation.’

“In my dream, he took me to a zoo where animals from all over the world were housed. ‘Look at the zoo,’ he commanded, ‘and tell me what you see.’ I looked and saw that many of the cages and places for animals were empty, while in many others the animals were sick or dying. And I saw the zoo keepers standing far off. I told the man these things and he said,

“‘You have seen well, for this is indeed the state of the zoo,’ he said sadly. ‘The zoo keepers were placed here to protect, nurture, and cause the animals to prosper but instead the wicked zoo keepers have plundered that which is under their care. They have annihilated many animals, neglected others, and selfishly used the animals for unnecessary luxury or entertainment.’

“Then, in my dream, he took me to high mountain where I could see all the plants and trees in the valley below. Again, the man asked me what I saw.

“‘I see a ravaged land,’ I told him. ‘Where there should be deep forests in which animals and people might dwell, I see only stumps of trees and fallen trees left to rot. The earth appears scorched and unable to bear fruit, and the water is discolored because of what man has done. And far off, I see a vast multitude of people praying and worshipping God. Tell me, sir, what does all this mean?’

“The strong man said, ‘What you have seen is God’s creation marred by the abuse and negligence of man. God placed man in His creation as a steward, to care for and protect all life and all aspects of creation. But this man has not done. Instead, man has declared himself lord over the earth and the animals, and has dealt treacherously and selfishly with creation. And the multitude are those for whom Jesus Christ has died, and who praise God but prey upon God’s creation.’

“‘The day will come,’ said the man, ‘when God will take away man’s stewardship of the earth and give it to another, to One who will faithfully tend it as a shepherd cares for a flock under his care. No longer will animals languish and the whole of creation will rejoice and reflect the glory of God, and the evil man has done will be undone, and the evil man will bear the responsibility for his hateful stewardship of God’s creation. This will surely come to pass.’”

Then I awoke and mourned for creation, and confessed my failure to be a good steward of all that God has entrusted to my care. And I thanked God for His forgiveness, but also repented of my selfish and rebellious attitude toward Him and His commands. And He did forgive and I am forgiven, but still the creation suffers and groans.

Related Posts: Al’s Inconvenient Truth at Broken Messenger; Why I Did Not Go to Church Sunday at Blogotional; “A Plea for Green” at It Takes a Church