As the last rays of the sun kissed the horizon, Old Jack’s eyes gleamed with the reflection of a life well-ridden. Now silent beside him, his trusty motorcycle was a testament to the countless roads1 they had conquered together. The leather of his jacket, worn and weathered, told stories of every mile and adventure.
He thought about Lily, gone some time ago.
Yes, Old Jack did find love on the road2. It was during a rally in the Lake District when he first saw her. She was there with her classic bike, a sleek machine that caught the sunlight just so. She had a spirit as free as Jack’s, with a laugh that echoed through the valleys, and it was Lily who had introduced Jack to her love of Jesus and how the spiritual essence of God3 meant so much to her.
They rode together that day, and many days after, exploring the winding roads and hidden trails. With each mile, their bond grew stronger, until it was clear they were riding the same path4 in life. They shared a love not just for bikes, but for the adventure and discovery that came with them.
Their love was like their rides – exciting, unpredictable, and deeply fulfilling. Even as they grew older and their rides became less frequent, the love they found on the road remained a constant, fueling their journey together until the end.
Lily’s journey with Jack was filled with countless sunrises and sunsets, each day a new chapter in their shared story. But as is often the case with tales of the road, they are punctuated by both joy and sorrow. With her adventurous spirit, Lily continued to ride alongside Jack for many years, their love as steadfast as the English landscapes they rode through.
However, time has its way of writing stories, and Lily’s final chapter came before Jack’s. She passed away peacefully, leaving Jack with memories that were both sweet and poignant. Her spirit, much like Jack’s, was indomitable, and even after her passing, Jack could feel her presence on the road, in the whisper of the wind, and the freedom of the open highways.
In his twilight years, as Jack sat beside his motorcycle, he often thought of Lily, her laughter mingling with the sound of the engines, her eyes as bright as the stars above. She was, and always would be, his greatest adventure, his deepest love, and the most beautiful part of his journey.
His mind wandered again for a moment, to another favourite memory he had. It was a ride that encapsulated the essence of his life on two wheels. It was a journey he took one summer, many years ago before he had met Lily when the world seemed boundless and time stood still. He rode through the Scottish Highlands, where the roads ribboned between rolling green hills and towering mountains. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine and the distant sound of bagpipes.
As he navigated the twists and turns, he felt a profound connection to the land and the machine that carried him. It was on this ride that he met a group of fellow bikers, with whom he formed an unbreakable bond. They camped under the stars, shared stories by the fire, and rode together as brothers and sisters of the road.
This memory, like the ones of Lily, was a cherished one – a time of freedom5, camaraderie, and the pure joy of the ride. It was a memory that he revisited often, as it reminded him of the beautiful tapestry of experiences that his life had been.
Then Old Jack felt a presence nearby. The angel beside him, a serene presence, spoke softly, “Are you ready, Jack?”
Jack nodded, a gentle smile gracing his lips. “I’ve lived with the wind at my back and the open road before me. I’ve known love, freedom, friendship, and the thrill of the ride. I’m ready for what’s next.”
Old Jack then laid his bike keys on the seat of his old motorcycle.
With that, the angel extended a hand, which Jack took without hesitation. Together, they rose, leaving the physical world behind. The motorcycle, now a silent guardian of memories, stood as a monument to Old Jack’s legacy – a biker who lived for the journey, not the destination.
And as the stars began to twinkle, signalling the arrival of night, it was clear that Old Jack’s spirit would forever ride on, in the tales of the road and the hearts of those he inspired. The end of his days was not an end, but a transition to a new glory6, one that promised eternal freedom and peace.
Peace be with you.
Note: This story is a playful blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary, reminding us that sometimes, wisdom can be found in the most unexpected places.
- Luke 9:57
(NKJV) Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
(RV60) Yendo ellos, uno le dijo en el camino: Señor, te seguiré adondequiera que vayas ↩︎ - Luke 24:32
(NKJV) And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
(RV60) Y se decían el uno al otro: ¿No ardía nuestro corazón en nosotros, mientras nos hablaba en el camino, y cuando nos abría las Escrituras? ↩︎ - Psalms 51:10
(NKJV) Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me
(RV60) Crea en mí, oh Dios, un corazón limpio, Y renueva un espíritu recto dentro de mí ↩︎ - Proverbs 12:28
(NKJV) In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway, there is no death
(RV60) En el camino de la justicia está la vida; Y en sus caminos no hay muerte ↩︎ - Psalm 146:7
(NKJV) Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners
(RV60) Que hace justicia a los agraviados, Que da pan a los hambrientos. Jehová liberta a los cautivos; ↩︎ - Matthew 6:13
(NKJV) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
(RV60) Y no nos metas en tentación, mas líbranos del mal; porque tuyo es el reino, y el poder, y la gloria, por todos los siglos. Amén ↩︎
