We've been watching the show Grey's Anatomy lately. It is a show following the lives of doctors in a teaching hospital, where they learn by doing. The doctor's who are older and teaching, always seem strict and somewhat harsh during a teaching moment to really allow the learning doctor to rise up. This approach has got to be the best way any of us could learn. You can only learn so much by someone telling you how to do it, before you have to just get in and get your hands dirty. This kind of reminded me of the way life has been over the past few years. Maybe it has been like this all along, I just didn't realize I was getting my hands dirty.
Today my car broke down. The good car, the dependable one. I was stuck at a gas station in this Vegas summer heat, so confused. It was working just fine, I've been driving all morning. Then bam. I tried turning it over a couple times and nothing would happen. I called Jeff right away and told him to hurry to come get me. In the mean time I called the dealership to schedule an oil change for the car. It was my plan anyways, I had a coupon and it needs to be done. I was partly hoping that the car would just start up once Jeff used his magic touch, then I could have them just make sure everything was ok while they did the oil change.
I got out the manual, skimmed through pages and tried to look like I knew what I was doing when sketchy people walked by. A kid walked out of the gas station on his way back to work in another part of the complex. He looked at me and asked if I was able to get the car going. He asked me what was going on and had me pop the hood open. He told me what he would do if I were to take it to his car shop. He didn't have an jumper cables to get the car started. I felt some comfort in the advise he gave me. I called our regular mechanic and let them know what was going on and explained what the kid said. They said he was right, that's what they would say also and advised me to go to the dealership as the parts may still be covered under warranty. (Plus they were slammed and wouldn't be able to fit us in until Monday.) Next I called the dealership and let them know I may need more than an oil change. Turns out we missed our warranty on the part by less than 6 months, but it would still be better to get it with them, so we could have a new warranty on the part.
So in this time of frequent bad news, my car broke down. I wanted to break down too, but I didn't... I was comforted by the sweetness of this stranger who came and wanted to help me. This stranger who just so happened to work with broken cars. Once Jeff arrived I explained everything and we made a plan. We flagged down this man who was driving around in a golf cart and asked him for jumper cables. He didn't have any but left to track some down and then came back. We were able to get the car started! He was so nice and so willing to help us out.
Even though I was upset that the car needs repairs, this was such a learning experience. In times of hardship or stress, the Lord sends us comfort. In the case of today, the comfort came from strangers willing to serve. Also, it was such a blessing that the car broke down when it did. For my job I travel all over the Vegas area alone, not always in the nicest of neighborhoods. It would have been really scary to happen somewhere unfamiliar or unsafe. Also, I got a good parking spot! Completely shaded and cool!
So, there is light at the end of this very long and windy tunnel of life...you just have to take time to calm down and notice it.
