Ian ‘Issy’ Ray and Rev Phil Zamagias.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
From time to time, I meet people who were brought up with a view of Christianity that was all about placing restrictions on what they could enjoy.
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That is unfortunate, to say the least.
A version of Christianity that is more concerned about what you can and can’t do is at best a caricature of the faith, and at worst, a perversion of it.
Jesus made it quite clear in chapter 10 of John’s Gospel that He has come to give us life in abundance.
Make no mistake, God is not a mean master who withholds good things from His subjects.
He is actually a gracious and compassionate father who wants us to enjoy every good thing He has made for us.
As a former commercial pilot, I still wonder at the gift of flight.
I have spent thousands of hours at the controls of planes, and I never cease to marvel at how I remained suspended in mid-air while travelling at a great rate of knots!
I know how planes work, and I can explain aerodynamic theory quite easily, but why does aerodynamic theory work that way?
When God created the universe, I can imagine God placing an enormous amount of things in the world for us to discover and enjoy.
When I think of the great discoveries such as flight, or the discovery of penicillin, I can imagine God thinking, “Well done! I’m glad you found that. Now go and discover the rest of the hidden gems I have placed in the world.”
Bikers know the freedom they enjoy when they are riding on the road with the wind in their faces and the hum (or roar) of a well-tuned engine under them.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Recently, my church hosted its annual ‘Anointing of the Boneshakers’ event as a ministry to our biker community from around the northern parts of Victoria.
Bikers know the freedom they enjoy when they are riding on the road with the wind in their faces and the hum (or roar) of a well-tuned engine under them.
If you talk to them, they’ll tell you that the feeling is so special, they will endure cold winds, treacherous roads and the risks of mixing it with larger vehicles for the sheer joy that riding a motorcycle, tricycle or Spyder gives them.
This year, I shared a version of the 23rd Psalm, the one often referred to as ‘The Shepherd Psalm’, with those who attended ‘Boneshakers’. A biker chaplain has produced an expanded version linking the psalm to the experience of riding a bike on the open road. It starts like this:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Just as a rider feels complete with the road beneath them and the sky above, so too do we find completeness in knowing God is with us. He provides what we need for the journey — strength, direction, and peace for the soul.
The last verse ties it all together as it speaks of our ultimate destination at the end of our life’s journey.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
The ride does not end here. The Shepherd promises an eternal destination: a house not made by human hands, but by God Himself.
Our brothers and sisters have arrived there already — dwelling in a place of peace, love, and freedom beyond anything we have known on earth.
The Shepherd mentioned in Psalm 23 is the same one mentioned in John chapter 10. He is the one who will lead us safely home if we place our trust in Him.
You can download a copy of the ‘Biker’s version of Psalm 23’ from The Christ Church Anglican Church website, christchurchechuca.org
Rev’d Phil Zamagias, Christ Church Anglican, Echuca
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