Two Up With My Pastor


Two Wild and Crazy Guys

 
Not quite two years ago I had a noontime appointment with the Senior Pastor of our Smyrna First United Methodist Church. I was riding a Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe that I had rented for a longer trip the next day. After meeting with Pastor Steve in his office we decided to go to lunch. As we walked towards his car he noticed the motorcycle and took a keen interest in it. He admired how stylish it was and that it reminded him of the bike Marlon Brando had ridden in the  “Wild Ones”.

 

At lunch we talked about our fledgling ministry known as Peter’s Promise.  We were discussing ideas for a Church wide presentation on a recovery related topic. During the lunch we spoke about faith in depth and the importance of shifting one’s dependence on worldly things to dependence on God based on trust.

 

On the way back to Church Steve asked if I might follow him over to his wife Gail’s office so he could drop her car off as his was in the shop. Then I could give him a ride back to the Church… on the back of the Harley.  Now my first thoughts were fearful and hesitant for a couple of reasons.  First I was concerned that well, you know two men are not supposed to ride two up on a Harley-Davidson.  It is kind of like an unspoken no no as well as a spoken rule of macho man culture.

 

The thought then occurred to me that he needed a helmet and I only had one;  “hallelujah” I am in the clear and home free. When I mentioned this obstacle to him he quickly responded that our Facilities Manager Eddie had a helmet he could borrow.  You should know Pastor Steve really had no idea of this riding faux pas. How could I even bring it up to him.  Would not my reluctance or refusal cast me as the one of little faith?

 

I mentioned that there were a couple of reasons for my fear. The second reason was that I had never ridden two up on a motorcycle.  It is one thing to be responsible for your own well being but whole different scenario when you have someone else’s welfare in your hands.  Lets take these ramifications a step further and consider the consequences in having to face the parishioners of the Church if something was to happen to our Pastor while I was piloting the ship, so to speak. This request was risky business.  But what about this heartfelt talk about faith I had just experienced a short while before.  How could I say no to my Pastor?

 

There was God’s Grace abounding in those moments as I realized that this man of God had placed his complete faith in me not knowing anything about my riding experience, only knowing me the person.  What an experience this would be. How blessed I was to have been placed exactly where I was.  I told Steve no problem lets go!

 

You must realize that our Pastor Steve Lyle looks just like the comedian Steve Martin. Two grown men riding on a Harley-Davidson is odd enough looking but when the guy on the back looks like Steve Martin well it is off the charts humorous. I’ll never forget pulling up at a stoplight and looking over at the car next to us and seeing our reflection in the window. It was pure Joy!  God is good.

 

On the way back to the Church I remember coming almost to the Harley-Davidson Dealership where I worked and thinking - boy I hope none of the guys see this.  There is the me of little faith again!  We got back to our Church and I delivered our Pastor safe and sound along with a story that will never die.

 

Bradford Bosworth

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