April is here and, if you’re like me, we have spent a great deal of time thinking about the coming season! Are you ready? In the winter months we spend a lot of time resting and doing the things we don’t usually take the time for during riding season, so we do things that prepare us for the next season, right? Oh, I know some might say, “Rest? Well, I don’t ever stop riding, even in the winter!” Good for those that can, those of us who don’t, we appreciate your bravado and smile as you go by. Nevertheless, it’s time to get ready now.

Are the lights working properly? Are they bright and visible? Are the brakes good? Both front and back? Are the belts good? Is the oil tank filled up with new oil? How about the forks, filters and clutch? You see, there are so many things to check out before we just jump on and go. Tires…definitely the tires! Especially if it hasn’t moved all winter. Finally, is the battery all charged up and ready? If it was on a tender all winter, then you should be good.

‘So, how does this relate today, MG? We are all understanding how to do the whole get ready to ride thing, we really don’t need a lesson.’

Fair enough, but let me ask this…Are You ready? Does your light shine before others so that they see our heavenly Father in you? Are you able to stop yourself from being totally rude to others? Are you able to keep the forward momentum going without squealing or being dried out? Have you connected yourself through prayer and reading the word so that the oil of the Holy Spirit can keep you filled up and ready to go? (there’s a story in the Bible about this called the 10 virgins…you should look it up). Is the ‘tread’ good so that you are physically fit enough to go and do as you are led to do?

You see, just like our machines need care and maintenance, so do we. For those who get what I am putting down here, we have to get ready to be ready for any moment when we hear that awesome sound that calls us to our real home with the Father in the heavenlies. Our Veterans will get it when I say, ‘Always on the ready.’ 

In the story I mentioned above, five of the ten were ready for the bridegroom to arrive, they didn’t know when He was coming, just that He was and they had their lamps filled, trimmed and ready for His arrival. They all rested for the coming journey, however, the other five didn’t prepare as well before they slept and ran out of oil! They begged for the others to share what they had, but they said, go out and get oil somewhere because we don’t have enough to share. The lacking five left and while they were gone, He came. Unprepared, they missed the most important time of their lives…the coming of the bridegroom.

Bottom line…always be ready, whether in season or out of season. If we make sure everything is good before we rest, then we will know it’s all good when we do the recheck as we get ready to ride and enjoy yet another season of good riding! Look, we aren’t promised tomorrow, and if you aren’t sure you are ready for that ride, contact us at cmausa.org and we will be happy to help you out with that.

Looking forward, we will be Riding for the Son in May and assisting with several Bike Blessings as well. The first Saturday is RFS and the first Sunday will be the Shawnee Bike Blessing in Lima, Ohio. If we don’t see you there, I’m sure we will see you somewhere!

See you in the Wind!

Mary G.