Diary & Travel Report by Simon Milward

Simon's baptism as a Christian after 18 months out, Why?

Cody, Wyoming, 13th August 2002

ISLAM

In Tunisia (North Africa) I was given a copy of the Koran, the Muslim holy book. There were many similarities and differences with the Old Testament of the Bible ­ indeed Christians, Jews and Muslims are cousins. It appeared that Arabs were excluded from Christianity or Judaism given God’s clear preference for the Jews.

‘The prophet’ Mohammed came up with Islam in the 400s AD. Islam gained converts in the Arab world and it occurred to me that Arab society benefited in terms of combating corruption having a code to live by. I felt comfortable in Muslim society as I rode through Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Malaysia and parts of Indonesia.

Certain aspects of Islam did not sit well with me for example religious intolerance at being excluded (as a non-Muslim) from certain areas of Saudi Arabia and the general treatment of women. Nevertheless I had informed myself with first hand experience and knew for sure it was not for me.

BUDDHISM

I met the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of the Tibetan Buddhists, at his residence in Daramshala in Northern India. It was a special meeting. I was very impressed by his positive attitude, smile and the effect he had on people around him. I admired his approach to dealing with China’s occupation of his country Tibet, using no guns or force but reasoning with love and peace. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if his approach works?!

I felt very comfortable with Buddhism, it was very close to my heart. Buddhists can pray with prayer wheels, the turning by hand of a rotating cylinder is enough to make a connection with Buddha. Could it be that simple? I read some of the Dalai Lama’s books and the Buddhist approach to life seemed admirable. But besides re-incarnation there was one major aspect of Buddhism, the bottom line, that I could not accept: you yourself are God. I don’t know about you but for me it is far too much responsibility! In no way am I worthy of such and if you cannot attain fulfillment in your belief then you will always be struggling.

HINDUISM

I’m afraid I have very few positive things to say about this major religion of India and Nepal. Hindus support the caste (or class) system that keeps people poor, unhealthy, unhopeful and retched. Lower caste Hindus believe that they have no right to break out of their awful miserable existence. Scary demon face masks gave me the creeps and I found no interest in getting to know the thousands of Hindu gods. The spiritual equivalent of the high priest is called a Saddhu, who practice cannibalism at midnight rituals. I feel so sorry for Hindus. However there was one Hindu I admired deeply and that was Mahatma Ghandi ­ one Hindu who believed he had the power to change things and of course he did.

BA’HAI

This one pricked my interest since it is a religion designed for those who believe that all religions are equal and that we should all work together for a peaceful and loving world. I visited the main temple in New Delhi India and delved into the books and leaflets available. Though admirable in terms of aims and general teachings, this faith was invented by a man in the latter part of the second millennium. I was disappointed to find that there was no divine intervention, for me it negates the possibility for it to be a religion at all.

CHRISTIANITY

Whilst I believed in the Bible before my ride it never felt important, nor did I feel ready, to be baptized and make that personal and public commitment to accept Jesus into my life. During my first year on the road I satisfied myself that these other major religions were not for me. But this was not the main thing that lead me to the Lord. It was the difficult and dangerous situations that laid the bedrock to my Christian faith.

I was unscathed after falling off at 80mph in Jeddah Saudi Arabia, I broke no bones colliding with a truck in Nepal and I survived intact two ‘over the handlebars’ crashes in the Australian Outback near to the world’s remotest community. I remember the latter experiences vividly. I prayed for God’s protection at the start of the 1200 mile desert track, and on each occasion along came a four wheel drive (on a track where I was seeing only 3 or 4 other vehicles a day) at precisely the same instant (when I was picking up the bike). Co-incidence or not, it felt like God’s hand of help.

Civil war zones included riding into the front lines of the communist army in the Laotion jungle and escaping marauding militants in West Timor. But it was the difficulties in Siberia on the flooded ‘road of bones’ where my moods shifted between extremes and I felt more close to God than ever before.

It was then that I decided to be baptized at the earliest opportunity. Suddenly it became the most important thing to do in my entire life. I’d met many Christians on my travels and I thought I could feel their prayers and those of Christians back home. My great friend and motorcyclist Scott Hamman in Alaska told me of a biking Pastor in Washington State. Pastor Tim O’Shea finally baptized me in the Columbia River at Wenatchee. It was done. I felt great. The Cascades were on fire and the sky was red. It was a new beginning for me. My motorcycle seized up that same day after I arrived back in Seattle. The cause was a roller bearing jammed between two cogs. Evidently I’d had roller bearings flying around in my oil since Valdivostok in Russia, thousands of miles ago. The Lord’s timing is perfect, thank you Jesus, praise God!

I am on the road constantly and have no regular Church and the fellowship and faith-building that goes with that. So sometimes it is hard. But I am absolutely and 100% sure that Jesus Christ of the Bible lives today.

Simon Milward, on the road

A solo fundraising round the world ride on a handmade motorcycle. Help us help motorcycles and motorcyclists improve the health of fellow human beings.