Second Chances

Let it Go and Move On

It was the mid 80’s and I was working as the lead tender on a diving job for Martech, Inc. We were many miles off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico where the water was blue and the air was fresh. A dive tender is basically a commercial diving apprentice. His job is to set up the compressors, volume tanks, hoses, recompression chambers and other gear on the dive station. Then they work in shifts helping the divers run the dives. They connect the diver’s helmets to the hoses, help the divers get dressed, jump in the water, then hold the umbilical cords. They pull the divers up, take their helmets off help them undress, rinse them off and help them into the chambers or get to their lockers. This apprentiship usually takes about two years, and as the tender gets more experienced he gets more opportunities to get “water time.” As he proves himself underwater and learn diving he might eventually “break out” as a diver.

    This job was not an ordinary dive. We were to cut off an old oil platform below the mud line using explosives. When we finished a derrick would come behind us to lift it onto a barge for removal. I was excited about this job. Besides the usual tender duties, it was our job to pack the plastic explosive (C-4) into sections of large diameter PVC pipe. The diving supervisor plugged the blasting caps in and we dropped them down the legs of the old rig that was protruding out of the water. We lowered the charges down into the hollow legs past the Gulf floor about 6-8 feet. Then we backed the barge away a safe distance. The “det” cord connected us to the charges as we backed away, un-spooling it, being careful not to break the lines. Radio silence was maintained by vessels in the area, so as not to prematurely set off the blasting caps.

    Eventually we hooked up the electrical wires to the terminals and set off the charges. A muffled explosion and a gush of saltwater spewed into the air. Dead fish began to float to the surface. An exhilarating shout was followed by a big sigh of relief. The pressure and stress we were under leaked away like a deflating balloon.

    Eventually we re-positioned alongside the platform to inspect the legs. When the lead diver completed his inspection dive, he came to me with a question, “would I get into my wetsuit and get in the water to finish up the job.” Usually this is an exciting opportunity, because every tender is dying to become a diver. It’s his reason for putting up with egotistical divers, jumping at their every whim and hauling heavy hoses in the hot sun. So when a diver allows his tender to make a dive, he jumps on it, or into it – it’s automatic.

    But the supervisor must have thought me crazy when I said, “I think I’ll pass. I’m not feelin’ too well.” Hey, I wasn’t feeling well. We had just worked almost 18 hours straight; plus I had handled the C4 without gloves and my hands had absorbed the chemical, which added to my weariness. So the tender next in line made the dive and I held his hose for him, having second thoughts. Weeks later someone told me of the supervisor’s comment about me in the company, “I can’t believe that Roy Jenkins, I picked him to be lead tender because I heard he was ‘go getter,’ then he turned down a chance to make a dive.”

    That hurt. I let him down, let down the team down and let the company down. I’m over it now – almost. I wish I could go back and live those moments over again; but I can’t. I could blame it on handling the C4, but that wouldn’t be entirely true. I was mainly tired and should have reached down a little deeper to finish strong.

    Have you ever done something that you regret? Have you ever made a wrong decision in a time of weakness? Is there a time you wish you could go back and change something? Well I’ve got bad news and good news.

    First the bad. You can’t go back and change it; and even if you could, it might not change as much as you think. It’s done. Get over it. The Bible is full of true stories about people who have failed, and suffered consequences. But I want to get straight to the good news. God is ready, willing and able to give you a new start, with a new direction and a new horizon of opportunities; even the strength to take you there.

    But you say, “Be more specific.” Ok, here’s an example. In the book of Joshua, the people of Israel had crossed the Red Sea, been led through the wilderness and were now about to cross the Jordan River into their new home in the Promised Land. But there were two major problems: 1. Their leader died. 2. The river was at flood stage.

    Many Bible scholars and archaeologists believe this was a group of over 3 million people; former slaves and homeless. The man who led them out of bondage in Egypt had just died, Moses. Leadership fell to his second in command – Joshua. Joshua was afraid. How do I know? Look how many times God commands Joshua, DO NOT FEAR!

    Another interesting thing God tells Joshua in chapter 1 verse 2:  “Moses my servant is dead.” So why would God say that? Didn’t Joshua know? Of course. Everyone did. What an understatement. But there is something in that statement that was very important. God was saying to Joshua. Ok, so Moses is dead. The past is past, what’s done is done. Get over it! It’s time to get on with your life.

    Are you still wallowing in the past? Is there something you need to get over? Ask God for help with it. Then follow his next commands and you’ll move to your new future.

“Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. I will be with you WHEREVER you go.”

    Look at their second problem. The Jordan River was at flood stage. Now the Jordan River is no Mississippi. It is not intimidating by any means. But we are used to driving our cars over bridges. Did they have a bridge? No. Did they have a boat? No. Did they have a ferry? No; just a bunch of families, their animals and possessions walking through the Sinai desert. It was a fearful time. Look how they got across.

    The Ark of the Covenant (picture the ark from the Indiana Jones movie) held the very presence of God, along with the Ten Commandments. The priests carried the ark into the raging Jordan River. It continued to swirl around their ankles as they walked in by faith. Finally it began to wall up and stop and the multitude crossed over to Canaan, the land of promise. Is there a direction you need to go in, on faith? You might have to move into it before it starts yielding to your FAITH.

    God has good planned for you. He has a place of plenty and peace. But you must obey Him. You must move behind Him in faith. You must prepare yourself. Ask Him to search you and see if there is anything unholy or impure in your heart and ask Him for forgiveness. Put the past behind you. It’s over. Done. Finished. You can’t go back and re-do it. Let it go! Then take His courage and strength. Move out of your land of desert, through the torrents of change, following Him in faith to your promised land.

    These are God’s words, not mine, “Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. I will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Redeeming Old Motorcycles

            There are as many ways to enjoy motorcycles as there are miles of road to enjoy them. One way is the restoration project. This is especially rewarding for those of us who have fond memories of certain motorcycles as a kid. When I was 14 years old I wanted a motorcycle so bad I could taste it, but alas, my Dad would have none of it. He had just crashed his old Maico under a bus on a rainy night and walked away from motorcycling, for good, or so he thought.

            Enter my cousins in Covington. Every summer I would visit with them for a week, and the Stonecyphers had something I couldn’t have – a Honda Trail 70 motorcycle. One lazy summer afternoon we snuck away to Garrett Honda and drooled over the new bikes. Honda had just developed an off-road model called the SL 70 Motosport that came in Summer Yellow, Aquarius Blue and Light Ruby Red. It was love at first sight. I took home a brochure of a yellow SL70 and pinned it to my wall. It was my motivation to keep the dream alive. My Dad finally relented and allowed me to buy a mini-bike, which led to a Honda CL90, later a Kawasaki 100, then on to Pentons for racing off-road.

            Now I live in Covington, too, but I never got my SL70. The faded brochure is still in my son’s room somewhere. The high fenders, the muscular tank, the semi-knobby tires and upswept pipe ignited a fire in my heart that still burns today.

            A few months ago while announcing the AHRMA vintage race at No Problem Raceway, I saw an SL350 go by near the front of the pack. I made it a point to meet the rider and was surprised to find out that he had built his bike, piece by piece from junkyards and spare parts! Scott Turner, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, pulled out his photo album and drew a crowd of like-minded admirers. I saw him again at Mid-Ohio on yet another creation bike as he was visiting Billy Orazio’s pit. I asked him about his bike and he cast an “aww…shucks, everybody does this” smile, then began to tell me about his “Junkyard Honda” with growing pride:

This one is built from parts I found at the junk yard. I just put it together and made it look good. It has 17” alloy rims, a little megaphone, fiberglass tank and tail section. The tank I found at a swap meet and I kinda built the bike around it… I made the seat… from a little creation that popped up in my mind. The motor is about a 72, but the rest of the bike comes from other years. I found a CB front end at a swap meet and put it on. The shocks I got at Mid-Ohio two years ago.

            Here comes the best part.  He spent under 500 dollars on the whole bike, 300 of which was the paint job. Scott went on to explain:

I told my buddy, “I just want a blue and silver tank,” and he came up with the paint scheme. I spent the other money on the Cheng-Shin tires which were about 20 bucks apiece. The rims I swapped stuff for, the spokes cost me about 10 bucks. I found a piston for it, and had to buy a gasket set, and new grips. The rest is just out of the junk yard. I like to build vintage road-racers for the street.

            God is in the business of reclaiming old lives from the junk piles. Since he created us he can re-make us according to what we were designed to be. No matter how broken you are, how much rust you have, how worn out you feel, how used you are or how lost you are, just put yourself in His hands.

            Pray this prayer: “Father, I know you love me. Please forgive me for my past sins and I release and forgive those who have done me wrong. I know that Jesus already paid for my sin at the cross and I yield myself to you, dying to my old self. Come into my life and re-make me according to your plan. I make you my Lord and Master and will now live for you, in Jesus name, amen.

Scriptures for the Day:

“I have come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Jesus in Luke 19:10)

“In Him [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood.” (Ephesians 1:7)

“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:17-21)

(from "Racing Fuel for the Spirit" by Roy Jenkins)