Motorcycle License, Part 2
I mentioned in a previous devotion how our son’s request for a motorcycle as a graduation present resulted in my wife and I getting our own motorcycles and eventually taking a rider’s class for training and to get our motorcycle endorsement.
During this ensuing time, our son did graduate with his undergraduate degree (The December ceremony) and by the time spring arrived, he was anxious to get his license endorsement and take the motorcycle back to his apartment (by then he was a graduate student). Since we had our license, he got some practice riding that summer with us as the licensed riders using his learner’s permit. It must have been early fall and he wanted to get his endorsement. He decided to go the second route of getting a motorcycle endorsement by riding his motorcycle with us to the Driver’s License station, taking a written test and the behind the wheel (riding) test.
It was a Friday evening; I think I left work at 3:30pm and the three of us converged at our house to make it to the Driver’s License station before the behind the wheel (riding) test cutoff time. I was wearing a suit so when I got home, I threw on a pair of shorts and the three of us jumped on our motorcycles to go to the Driver’s License station. So, I was wearing tennis shoes, shorts and didn’t grab my gloves (I did wear my helmet as a rule of thumb in any of our riding).
Our son did fine with the written test and we went outside with the instructor for his behind the wheel (riding) test. Before we got started, the instructor pulled me aside and quietly told me that it was none of his business but he had been a state police officer before becoming a testing instructor and had seen some pretty bad motorcycle accidents. He told me that that extra amount of fabric (between shorts and jeans) may make a significant difference if I ever had to lay a bike down if, say, a car pulled out front of me at a corner.
He went on to explain that in that same laying a bike down scenario, I might slide on the pavement many feet prior to stopping. He said, instinctually, I’ll want to keep my face from scraping the pavement and put my hands down to push my head up. Again, those leather gloves would delay, even if only briefly, how long the pavement would dig into my flesh.
Finally, he explained that while my tennis shoes might be more comfortable, in that same laying the bike down scenario, a boot with ankle protection might save my ankle from being seriously damaged (or my foot torn off).
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure. A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.” - Proverbs 11:14-19 ESV
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” - Psalm 4:8
I am grateful that the officer took the initiative to give me some sound advice based on his years of experience. I would like to say that I’ve never ridden in shorts since then but we did rent motorcycles on a tropical island that we didn’t pre plan for. That story has a moral for another devotion.
Our son, even without the hours of tedious practice that we went through in the riding class, had no problem passing his behind the wheel (riding) test.
The rat.
