On my 51st birthday, I feel compelled to share a story that’s close to my heart. It’s not merely about motorcycles and miles traveled – it’s a story about partnership, trust, resilience, and the profound beauty of shared journeys.
This journey didn’t begin in a conventional way. It began with a partnership – one that has stood the test of time, adventure, and countless miles on the road.
For nearly two decades, my wife and I have been riding motorcycles together. What began as an occasional mode of travel gradually grew into a way of life – a rhythm we embraced, a passion we nurtured, and a path that has shaped much of our shared life and ministry. From crowded city streets to rugged rural trails, from urgent hospital visits to quiet worship services, home visits to late-night prayer calls – we’ve ridden mile after mile together.
Two wheels beneath us, a shared purpose ahead.
Almost daily, we ride for ministry – visiting members, encouraging the sick, responding to pastoral emergencies, and simply being present where needed. The motorcycle provided by the church has been more than just a vehicle – it’s been a faithful companion. It has carried not just our bodies, but our prayers, hopes, burdens, and joys.
The Experience of Riding
The experience has been nothing short of exhilarating.
There’s something uniquely freeing about the roar of the engine, the rush of wind, and the open road ahead. It awakens the senses and, paradoxically, calms the soul. Every ride offers a fresh perspective. Every journey strengthens the bond between rider and passenger – not just through proximity, but through shared mission, mutual trust, and joy.
Until recently, our motorcycle adventures barely drew attention. It was simply part of who we were – a couple who embraced both service and adventure, however unconventional that might appear.
That changed during our latest ride – a rugged trip from Shillong to Basorong, a village tucked in the hills of Assam, where we were to lead a Couple’s Seminar at the village church.
For that journey, we borrowed a motorcycle from our pastor friend, John I. Chang.
To our surprise, this particular ride sparked quite a buzz. Some were shocked. Some were inspired. A few were skeptical – wondering if the photos we shared were AI-generated or real! That made me chuckle. Let me assure you: the ride was as real as the wind in our faces, the potholes on the road, the sore muscles afterward, and the fatigue that followed!
It was raw, thrilling, demanding – and deeply fulfilling. It reminded me again of the value of embracing experiences that stretch us, body and spirit.
The Daily Commute Through Shillong’s Heavy Traffic
Almost every day, my wife and I weave through the bustling streets of Shillong – a city that grows more congested with each passing year. The daily traffic, especially during peak hours, tests one’s patience and resolve. Yet amidst the honking, the weaving vehicles, and the chaos, we’ve discovered a rhythm – and in that rhythm, a kind of peace.
For us, riding through Shillong isn’t just about getting from one place to another – it’s about engaging life’s busyness with intention. It’s about finding pause in the chaos and prayer in the journey.
The motorcycle offers a nimbleness that larger vehicles can’t. As we squeeze through traffic jams and narrow lanes, we often talk about the people we’re on our way to see – the elderly who need comfort, the sick needing prayer, families needing encouragement. In those in-between moments, our hearts are stirred toward the ministry ahead.
Each stop at traffic becomes a chance to pray. Each turn becomes an opportunity to prepare. Riding side by side, we reflect, connect, and gear up not just for the destination, but for the sacred work ahead.
In the rush of the city, the motorcycle becomes more than transportation – it becomes a place of preparation, of quiet conversations, of spiritual alignment. It reminds us that even in life’s busiest moments, we can find stillness – if we choose to look for it.
The Spirit of the Journey
That ride to Basorong made me think not only of our own journeys, but of other historic motorcycle adventures that left an imprint on the world.
One such story is of Che Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado. Many know Guevara as a revolutionary figure, but fewer know about the 1952 motorcycle journey that shaped his worldview.
At just 23, Guevara – then a medical student – and Granado, a 29-year-old biochemist, embarked on a journey across South America on an aging Norton 500cc, nicknamed La Poderosa (“The Mighty One”). Chronicled in The Motorcycle Diaries, the trip opened Guevara’s eyes to poverty, inequality, and injustice – encounters that would later fuel his revolutionary ideas.
Of course, our motorcycle rides aren’t political or revolutionary in that sense. We’re not setting out to change the world. But in our own quiet way, the rides have been deeply transformational. They’ve changed us – shaped our perspectives, helped us appreciate life’s simple blessings, and drawn us closer together with every shared mile.
Because in the end, perhaps that’s where all meaningful change begins – not with grand revolutions, but with inward transformation.
Is There an Age Limit to Riding Together?
Lately, some have asked if we’re too old to still be riding motorcycles – especially as a couple.
My answer is wholehearted: Absolutely not.
Adventure doesn’t have an age limit. Passion doesn’t expire. What matters isn’t the number of candles on your birthday cake – it’s your physical readiness, your mental awareness, and your commitment to safety.
With age comes a certain wisdom – a deeper gratitude, a richer ability to savor moments that youth often speeds past. Life becomes less about accumulating things, and more about collecting moments that matter.
Before every ride, regardless of age, it’s wise to ask: Am I physically fit enough for this journey? Am I properly geared and protected? Am I focused and alert? Am I still riding responsibly?
If the answer is yes, then ride on. The road still welcomes you. The spirit of adventure, once kindled, doesn’t fade – it deepens.
Conclusion
Riding together through life has been a gift – one of shared purpose, joyful service, and quiet transformation. I don’t know how many more miles we’ll travel on two wheels, but I know this: every ride so far has been worth it.
Because in the end, it’s not just about the ride – it’s about who you’re riding with, and why.
~ Meyu Changkiri