Randy Suits

Follow Through on Your Dreams

My Eve, answer to my dreams,

Burt Munro was a New Zealand motorcycle racer, famous for setting an under-1,000 cc world record, at Bonneville, 26 August 1967. This record still stands today. Munro was 68 and was riding a 47-year-old machine when he set his last record. Working from his home in Invercargill, he worked for 20 years to highly modify the 1920 Indian motorcycle that he had bought that same year. Munro set his first New Zealand speed record in 1938 and later set seven more. He travelled to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats, attempting to set world speed records. During his ten visits to the salt flats, he set three speed records, one of which still stands today.

Munro wanted to increase the speed of his Indian mortor cycle to make it the fastest in the world. He said, “if you don’t follow through on your dreams, you might as well be a vegetable.” Munro’s Indian Scout was very early off the production line, being only the 627th Scout to leave the American factory. The bike had an original top speed of 55 mph (89 km/h). This did not satisfy Munro, so in 1926 he decided to start modifying his beloved Indian. The biggest two challenges for Munro to overcome were his lack of money and the fact that he worked full time as a motorcycle salesman. He would often work overnight on his bikes (he had a 1936 Velocette MSS as well), then he would go to work in the morning, having had no sleep the night before. Because Munro was a man of modest means, he would often make parts and tools himself instead of buying professionally built components. For example, he would cast parts in old tins, make his own barrels, pistons, flywheels, etc. In its final stages, the Indian’s displacement was 950 cc (as built it was 600 cc). Gods’ people could take a lessen from the dedication and tenacity to a life goal as exemplified by Burt Munro in his endless quest to set the world motor cycle speed record. He was undeterred by advancing age. Our love is such a life quest for quality of life. Burt Munro had many detractors who often poked fun at his perpetual drive toward a seemingly impossible pipe dream. Our love has set high standards and goals which seem unachievable to well meaning family and friends. Their dreams are not our dreams, their goals are not our goals and our God will not give us an unachievable assignment. The purpose of God for us is and always will be our focus. We shall align our will to the Holy One of Israel. Burt Munro, who set the world speed record (183.58 mph) at age 68 on a 47 year old motor cycle, just proves that many a good tune has been played on an old banjo. We are as young as God has made us and the Lord who promised eternal life will certainly enable us to do all that He has planned for us. Noah was 480 years old when God told him to build the Arc. He entered the Arc with his family and the chosen animals at 600 years of age when God shut them safely in the Arc when 40 days and 40 nights of destructive rain began. Moses was 80 years old when called to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt. Sara was 90 and Abraham 100 when God opened her womb with Isaac. It was the pleasure of their loving God to restore them in strength and renewed faith to glorify His Name. It is also His pleasure to bless us in this present age. Moses told the children of Israel, “stand still (don’t retreat) and know that that He is Lord,” in Exodus 14. They had to stand still and do nothing, even though Pharaoh’s army was pursuing, they were fleeing, and the Red Sea was in the way! They had to stand still all night. Pursued and pinned in, they had no escape. God could have delivered them immediately, but He chose not to. Instead, He taught them to trust Him. They were given nothing to do but to wait. We stand still, and He works while we wait.

May we always remember that the Holy Spirit enables us to soar as on wings of an eagle who flies higher every year that passes. It is the oldest eagles who fly highest. I love you always my sweet.

You are forever young to me, Kochany