1 December 2007
Evel Knievel makes his last leap.
Evel Knievel Dies at 69
Read about him here.
Evel (That’s Evel. NOT Evil!) was one of my heroes growing up. We had four motorcycles (all dirt bikes) and almost all my friends road competitively or in some sort of Xtreme fashion.
I used to imitate Evel too—jumped my motorcycle the length of at least a few cars, broke a few bones, had a few surgeries that were dirt bike related. But one of the neatest memories I have is that of never really being afraid.
Seriously, I break into a far greater sweat and state of panic when people try to criticize Southbrook or one of our pastors or music or something than I ever did doing motorcycle stunts.
The secret back then?
It’s good and bad (small children should be removed from this next portion of the post immediately)…Here it is.
I wasn’t afraid of physical death.
A lot of the thrill seekers and Xtreme sports gang today seem to be running from something rather than toward someone. Some seem to live recklessly because they can’t find anything in life worth living for. I live this way because I’m living life to the fullest. Some of them believe it’s a short ride (life) and when it’s over, it’s ALL over.
That’s sad.
I’ll take God’s philosophy over theirs everytime. I’m just be getting started. And I knew even as a kid that to live should be to live all out for God, but to die? Well, that would be gain because I’d be with Jesus…
I knew I’d be with my best friend. So I did a lot of crazy things without even thinking about it. It’s a lot like this guys approach to life.
It wouldn’t hurt to recapture some of that even at my age.
Anyone have a dirt bike they can spare?
2 Comments currently posted.
Matt Langley says:
Kate says:
Amen on your last question Matt! And sorry Rob, no dirtbike.
Death I do not fear. I do fear not doing much with this part of my life, the earthly part. And that is a fear that keeps me before God, seeking Him. Because when I get home to God, I want to hear “Well done”, I want to hear a smile in my Savior’s voice as He welcomes me home. And then I want to get on with serving Him in heaven! And what an adventure that will be!
My wife will not let me have a motorcycle, unless she can have one too. I also grew up with Evel Knievel. Had friends that were in to him as well. We played with our red, white, and blue RVs, motor cycles, and stunt sets, great times. I also remember knocking out my front teeth after jumping one too many ramps on my bicycle. Back then the only part of physical death that I feared was the part between the start and finish of the dying process. Things like how long will the pain, if any, last? How much warning will I have? Do I want any warning? The list could go on but that is not my point. The realization that I have come to now, which has greatly lessened those thoughts, is twofold. One - any pain, fear, etc. that I experience is miniscule compared to what Jesus endured to save me from eternal separation from God. And two – while I have breath, as Rick Warren’s dad said, I want to “win one more for Jesus”. After having at least accomplished that one goal, “finishing the race”, and hearing “well done good and faithful servant” (and of course being with The Lord in heaven) well, it just won’t get any better than that. Any finally, what greater legacy can we leave behind than reflecting God’s glory by what we did while we were here?