When I was 13 years old, I had a mini cycle. I call it a mini cycle not a minibike because it had 5 speeds and a top speed of 55 mph! That cycle with those off-road tires, took me places exploring the abandoned dirt roads where no car or truck could go-because there were trees starting to grow IN the roads. I was able to see the ruins of many farms from years ago, as I would sometimes pause and try to imagine what life was like for so many people…seemingly, now all forgotten.
But I did have a lot of fun times with that cycle. Like some of my friends who also had a mini cycle, we were watching a short lived tv show called “Then Came Bronson”. It was like he was the last free American Cowboy doing good all over the western U.S. Jim Bronson, as he was called on the show, wore a black knit fisherman beanie instead of a helmet-not smart, but cool? Anyway, to a lot of young teens that year, “Bronson Hats” were cool! (I still remember the box up on the shelf in my father’s store; Bronson Hats $2.00)
The Bronson Show started with Jim Bronson at a stop light on his Harley Sportster and a man in a station wagon next to him says: “Taking a trip?” Bronson: “Yeah.” Driver: “Where to?” Bronson: “Oh, I don’t know. Wherever I end up, I guess.” When the light turned green Bronson headed off, fading out of sight…
One time my mother even momentarily stepped into my temporary “world of Bronson”! I rode my cycle right to the back door of the house and stopped while revving the motor. Surprisingly, she opened the door and said: “Where you headed?” I said: “Oh, I don’t know. Wherever I end up, I guess.” And I rode off across the property out of sight-not knowing I had just made a memory that would last a lifetime! (Thanks mom, another gift that fit perfectly!) Yes! I sure did have some good times on that mini cycle!
In the book of John at the end of chapter 13 and the beginning of chapter 14, Jesus is telling His Disciples that He is going to take a trip and that they can’t follow Him now, but will follow Him later John 13:36. The Disciples had given up everything to learn from and follow Jesus and now he’s going to take a trip and leave them! They were having a hard time understanding-but things were happening fast-they had to “Get with it”, just like we all do at times…in John 14:4 when Jesus said, “you know the way to the place where I am going.” That’s when Thomas and Phillip started asking some pretty direct questions, AND the answers are for all of us: John 14: 5-11 TLB “No, we don’t,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the Way-yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me. If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is. From now on you know him-and have seen him!” Phillip said, “Sir, show us the Father and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Don’t you even yet know who I am, Phillip, even after all this time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own but are from my Father who lives in me. And he does his work through me. Just believe it-that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or else believe it because of the mighty miracles you have seen me do.”
We are all going to make ONE FINAL TRIP some day, and life is very unpredictable. We never know when our time on earth will be over. There’s no need to enter eternity with the idea that the TV character on that motor cycle had: “Oh, I don’t know. Wherever I end up, I guess.” 1 John 5:13 TLB “I have written this to you who believe in the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life.”
Taking a trip? I hope you know where you’re headed.
Till Next Time…..
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