Wow, I just had the craziest day today. I don’t even know for sure where to start with the story.
Ok, so it’s been raining all day long. It was raining when I woke up at 9:00, it didn’t stop more than twice all day long and for no more than 20 minutes, until six when I got off work. Then, I was picking up a few extra things before I left, and as I was on my way to the register when the power went off in the building. That got me laughing for some reason. So I got in line, figuring the power would be back up soon enough, and it was. But then the register computers needed to reboot, so it was another five minutes or so before I was finally out of there. And when I walked outside, it was just pouring. I was glad that when I came back from lunch I parked real close to the front of the store, but even just running from the sidewalk to the car (actually, I skipped there. What can I say? I was in a weird mood. {I love storms, by the way}) I got more than a little wet.
So then I was driving home, and instead of taking broadway and turning off on Hwy 14 East, I took my usual route home, which is slightly more backroad-ish. And I was having a blast! A lot of other cars were taking it slow, and being careful, but since I have a Jimmy which rides a bit higher up, I was confident that I could just plow through any puddle I wanted. And it was going great for a while. Every time I hit a puddle the smile on my face got bigger. It was fun. Then I took a left turn onto 11th Ave, and while I was sitting at the intersection I was getting a little worried about the depth of the water, which was probably up near the top of my tires. But the car was still running, so I took the turn and kept on going.
I got about four blocks. My engine began to sputter, and the car lurched and died! My head went back against the headrest and I heaved a heavy sigh. But I was still laughing. I wasn’t worried because I didn’t know what to be worried about, and I knew that it wouldn’t do me any good anyways. I shut the engine and all my lights off, and called my room mate, and let him know I probably wouldn’t be home any time soon. He suggested I call a mechanic friend from church, so I did. He said he’d come get me, but it would probably be a half hour or so. So I just sat and waited it out. I had chips and Sprecher’s Orange Dream Soda, so I knew I wouldn’t starve. I also started to read the Bible I had sitting on my dashboard, but I couldn’t remember where I left off last, so I put it back. But by this time, the rain had ceased (I was actually rebuking it in Jesus’ name) and a police officer was pulling up to my window. I rolled my window down so I could talk to him, and he said that the water had receded far enough below my car that I could probably get it started again. After a couple attempts, it turned over and sputtered to life. I was rejoicing. And I think at this time I was on the phone again with my roommate, and so he asked me to go get a movie for the night (Since prayer had been cancelled due to the flooding).
As I drove on block by block, I felt like I was in the clear. But then the road took a dip and the water there was deeper than before. I drove full-bore into that, and didn’t get much further. *sigh* So I sat there, waiting for the rain to stop again long enough for me to get my car started again. The rain wasn’t stopping, but a fella wading out in the water offered to push me back out of the flood to a place where I could presumably get my car started again. While I was sitting the the left turn lane where he left me, a news reporter for channel 6 news walked up to my window (although I didn’t notice the channel 6 hat right away. I just thought she was some random stranger asking why I wasn’t moving.) So, I let her interview me, because how often do you get to be on TV? So, yeah, my stupidity is fully documented now. Ten more minutes rolled by and my car still wasn’t starting, so I called my friend again to see how close he was. He came soon after that and towed my car to a nearby parking lot. And I tell ya, driving a car without the aid of power steering is hard!
So that was the end of that day. We decided to leave the car sitting there overnight to let it dry out a bit. The next day we ended up changing four spark plugs and the air filter, and the car still wouldn’t start, but it is getting closer. So I really don’t know what’s going on.
I wish I could say that this story has a happy ending, but as far as when this was posted, I still haven’t been able to get it started. I’m going to be needing that car sometime soon. Pray for me. I’ll keep you posted.
The funny thing about the whole thing, is that I never started stressing. I didn’t worry, I didn’t fidget. I think part of it is due to the fact that I was having such a great time with the rain up until I got in trouble. But another part of it is just that I’m a very laidback guy. I get it from my dad. I realize that worrying about stuff usually doesn’t solve anything, and so, even though I’m not perfect, I usually don’t let worry grip me. Even at times when it should, like when I didn’t worry that school application deadlines were fast approaching and I wasn’t doing anything about it. Like I said. I’m not perfect. But I read a quote recently that I really liked. “Worry is a misuse of the imagination.”
Well, I’ve dragged this on long enough. Everyone out there, stay close to God and far from sin and you’ll do ok.
Y’all come back now, ya hear?
So that was Saturday. The next Thursday night I picked up my cell phone to see that I had new voice mail. I listened to it, and the grounds keeper at the church whose parking lot my car was left in called me and wanted to know how he could help me get my car off their property. I called him back and he was very nice about it. It wasn’t so much that he wanted me gone, or else! It was just that he said they’d had people in the past just abandon cars in their lot, so he just wanted to make sure that this wasn’t such a case. So we talked things over and I agreed to get my car out as soon as I could. I wish I knew how he got my number though. Oh well.
Now, for the resolution of this tale! Da da DAAAAA! Ok, so I called the insurance people to see if I was covered with what insurance I had. Good news, I’m covered. So they said they’d have some people at a shop look at it and let me know if it would even be worth fixing, because when water gets in the engine, you can fix it and it’ll most likely have more problems just a few months down the road. So as I was calling a tow truck, the insurance called back and said to just skip the shop and just let an insurance guy take a look at it. After a few more phone calls, I got everything squared away. That day, I was going to be helping my pastor with a roof shingling project. Bro. Li came by to pick me up, and since I had one of his tools in my car from a previous job, I suggested we go get it. While there, I tried the car again, not expecting much, but it worked! It started up and I was able to drive it to the church. It was not a smooth ride. (a bunch of details omitted for space saving purposes) The insurance company ended up valuing the car at nearly half the value I paid for it 4-5 years ago, which is way more money than I thought I was going to get. So my car is totaled, but it’s still running, and now I’m shopping for a new car.
But what I’d like to point out in this is that God really can and does use any situation and turn it for His glory. I praise God that I received that sum of money. My car was in need of three or four different repairs anyways, so that would have been even more money out if God hadn’t allowed this to happen. It may have happened because I was inattentive and perhaps a little dumb, but God turned it around and brought about a brand new car for me. So, people, keep on praising Him no matter what. It might not work out how you thought it would, but in the end, you’ll be able to brag on Jesus a bit because of His incredible wisdom and provision. Amen.