A Memorial, A Reminder, and a Sacrifce

Bikers exist in a different world when riding. Whether gripping the throttle of a Harley, Yamaha, or Suzuki there is camaraderie amongst riders. This is most evident when bikers pass each other on road sticking a hand out to acknowledge the other. It's an assumed respect and understanding for the other rider. It's because of the sense of unity that I feel "punched in the gut" whenever I hear of a rider who has been injured or killed in an accident.

Not to far from our house there is an access road that I drive on everyday before and after work. It's always been a particularly annoying road because the speed limit is 30 mph. For most residential roads I can accept that speed as reasonable. However, this particular road is only an access road to other neighborhoods just off the main highway and therefore I have found this speed to be clearly unreasonable...until an early evening in October when a rider lost his life on that very road. There is a memorial at the location where he drew his last breathe.

I am not sure exactly how the accident happened, but what I can tell you is that he did not die going the speed limit. Reports have said that a car pulled out in front of him. Given the location of the wreck he clearly was not obeying the speed limit. I cannot ride or drive past that memorial any longer without checking my speed and remembering the tragedy that occurred there. 30 mph no longer seems unreasonable to ask of me. I often picture him [the rider] standing near his memorial pleading with passersby to heed the speed limit.

A few evenings ago I drove past the memorial and a scripture came rushing back to me.

Hebrews 12:11

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

We are surrounded by those who have fought for faith and have gone on to cheer for us. Not just prophets and martyrs of the Old and New Testament, but those of the 20th and 21st century who have struggled with the endurance of their faith and died for Christ. They are the ones who cheer us on from the stadium of heaven as we struggle to persevere.

How often do we remember those who have been martyred? How often do we consider the ultimate martyr, Christ, and what his sacrifice has given us as followers? A more important question should be: Does His life and death move you and me to live a life worthy of His death. These questions have challenged me lately. His memorial, the cross, has reminded me to live a worthy life, just as that riders memorial persuades me to slow down.

In the movie Saving Private Ryan an old soldier stands at a grave and recalls the sacrifices a platoon made to save his life and bring him home safely. His Captain lay shot and dying behind a barricade and private Ryan desperately tries to call for a medic. With the Captains last few breaths he grabs Ryan and says, "Earn it.....earn it". A plea to live a life worthy of sacrifice.