Three days ago a friend of mine had never had any experiences on a motorcycle. 400 miles later, he is very comfortable being a pillion on a bike at speed. As the rider, it has been interesting to see and feel the transformation. From the initial twitchy, always shifting the body, there has been a steady transformation to a calm confidence moving through traffic at ninety plus. To be fair, the speed was in context of traffic moving faster than we were as well as ones that were slower.
As I think of the transition, I find myself coming back to the following points.
Trust comes with time. No matter how much one wants to trust, it is more than an intellectual choice. With a new rider, you can instruct, ride conservatively, and be cautious. Initially, none of this will matter. New pillion riders shift, fidget, and adjust themselves trying to feel secure.
With time and experience, trust changes. With a pillion, there is a noticeable reduction in the frequency and magnitude of fidgets and adjustments. Movement starts as a waterfall. It will, with time, become a trickle, and eventually an exceptional event. Movement and trust are inversely correlate.
Context is important. Starting with small doses opens up an opportunity to expand to longer and more. With more time, experience, confidence and time, the duration, speed, and the busyness of everything around you begins to become familiar.
I look back on the reference points, and it seems like a lifetime ago. There are great memories – from riding along side a caravan of Ferraris at ninety plus, listening to the sweet tune of their exhausts, to chaotic Malaysian traffic, to the wonderful sense of being free, it was a great ride. As a rider, I was humbled by the trust given me. I heard an echo of the Psalmist’s voice and call, “Say this: ‘God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!’” (Psalm 91.2)
To my pillion, thank-you for the trust. To the Spirit always with me, thank-you for the ride of my life.
