I really like the look of my wife's Bonnie. Unlike my own, hers has M bars with bar-end mirrors and a cafe racer seat. Really has that old cafe look to it.
So I was toying with the idea of making the same modifications on my own Bonneville. However, since I knew that these changes would completely alter my riding position, I thought I'd give her bike a try first.
I don't think I got even three miles down the road, I could feel the differences immediately. I would know this was not my bike blindfolded. It felt completely different. If I leaned too far forward I could feel stress on my back, if I tried to sit up straight, like I do on my Bonnie, the stress was evident in my shoulders.
It simply was not my bike. I have gotten to know both my Harley and my Bonnie. I am used to the feel of them both, but this was foreign to me.
We stopped to get gas, and after I described what I was feeling we went back so I could swap to one of my bikes.
I was a lot happier with my own again, and I enjoyed the ride!
To a non-rider all bikes look the same. But those of us who ride know our bikes. There is a relationship there, placed by time and miles. Any other bike feels like a stranger.
And that's just how the Lord's voice should feel to us. We should get to know him and his word so intimately that anything that clamors for our loyalty or attention can be recognized right away for what it is. And when we hear his voice, we would not hesitate to follow him wherever he sends us.
"The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." John 10:2-5 (NIV)
