The Nicks and Dings of Character Building

 

The customer service area was both hot and crowded that day. The rooms filled with impatient customers, all with the same problem, they had injured cars. Just like a hospital waiting room, there was limited seating and congestion as people paced about waiting to be helped. I was there for the simple fact that a match between an exterior pole and my right front fender had not ended in my favor but rather with my front fender being redesigned.  As an elementary math teacher, I saw my once perfectly straight front fender as a discussion for my next math class as it clearly now resembled a 90-degree angle. I was nothing less than disgusted. My car was only a few weeks old and to think what I had done! My mind raced ahead as I thought about all that had to be accomplished before school began in a couple of weeks.  This was going to be quite an inconvenience.

 I watched as customers one by one were ushered out to the driveway to receive their loaner cars and drive off going on with their lives as usual. Well, maybe, if I could ever get some transportation, this would be minimal disruption I decided. Within a few moments, the waiting room had cleared, and I was trying to wait patiently for my ride to freedom. Thumbing through magazines, looking at the TV screen playing some outdoor sporting show, I waited.
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Sometime later, I caught out of the corner of my eye something approaching the customer service driveway. Quickly, I jumped to my feet. Finally, it was here! My carriage had arrived! And that it had, all 15 feet of it! From the front fenders to the back bumpers this “thing” resembled a smoking boat emitting a stream of undefined gray fog through its exhaust system. The body was covered in a dingy silver metallic paint topped off with dings and nicks that exposed the primer base of the car. This contraption needed to be in among the other injured cars not on the streets, I thought. It really didn’t look worth saving to me – not in the least.   

With all the self-awareness, I could muster at that moment, battling the thought, this is what I am going to have to put up with it for two weeks? “Unfair!” I deliberately, yet silently declared. He handed me the keys and gave no explanation for the contraption he delivered other than to say, “We ran out of loaner cars, but I had this one you can use.” Still fighting the “this is all I get thinking,” I knew I had better get my “walk” matching my “talk” in a hurry before my exposed superficial, entitled attitude was all over my face. Without any questions, I pretended to not notice all the flaws, took the keys, and thanked him making my way to the driveway. I had this! I assured myself. As I entered the car, this positive thought went right out the dirty side window as the smell of stale cigarettes, mildew and just good old hard-working body odor filled my nostrils.  Again, I caved. I was certain I would have to find a nearby rental place to replace it and very soon! It didn’t take long to realize that my budget could not withstand the cost of a long- term rental so I had to accept the fact – I was just stuck with it.
 
Immediately, my mind began to race ahead. Not only did I have to drive this to school for a couple of weeks, I had to drive it to a new school! The parking lot would be filled with clean, good smelling, freshly painted, decent cars. I would be arriving in this transportation nightmare.  I needed to be rescued from this humiliation and fast!
 
The morning of the first day of school, I rose early thinking I could get there before most the traffic flowing into the lot began. So, I tried my strategy but apparently, everyone else had the same idea. Only one option for parking was available, and it was right next to a brand new foreign-made luxury car. I gripped the steering wheel tight as I pulled into the spot hoping the nice car next me was already empty. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her sitting in this dream machine.  Worse than the fact she was in the car was that she was smiling at me. Inside, my heart was sinking.  I worked to hold my body up behind the steering wheel instead of melting like hot butter and disappearing down into the floorboard. Shyly, I acknowledged her and did the only thing I knew to do. I got out of the car, grabbed my bag, straightened my skirt and ran for the door.  My heart sank, again I was not rescued. Now everyone would know who this car belonged to. My secret was out. I was humiliated.
 
As the days passed, I repeated the same routine and often wound up next to the same lady in the parking lot. We exchanged greetings, and I noticed something. Her eyes never looked towards the car I was driving. Rather she looked at me. That both comforted and convicted me. Could she read what I was thinking? I noticed that I thought less and less about the car more and more about how grateful I was for the new job, new friends and my new students.
 
Before I knew it, the two weeks had passed. As I pulled into the driveway to return the once loathed vehicle, I felt a tinge of sadness mixed with gratitude and new joy. I was greeted by the same man. Outwardly, he was still the same unassuming garage worker that came to work every day and put up with people like me. At that moment, I acknowledged my haughty and prideful spirit. Suddenly, I was grateful for what this man had done for me. He had rescued me. Like the old car that had appeared to me as not be worth even driving, it was truly worth everything. It had been a constant source of provision for the past two weeks and it had been the opening of my eyes to the dings and nicks that were quickly shining on the primer of my soul. At this moment, I knew if I was placed against this automobile for a judgement of a thing of beauty, the car would win hands down. There was no denying it, I needed a makeover.  This seemingly inconvenient happening and the tacky contraption disguised as an automobile were the tools it took to rescue the ungrateful, entitled, destructive spirit within me that was hiding the light of Christ in my life. 
In Luke Chapter 14, Jesus tells the parable of a man who prepared a great banquet and invited choice people to attend. One by one they gave excuses for not going to the banquet. Some were busy building beautiful homes, increasing their property by buying land and cattle to amass more wealth. Others were spending all their time on relationships and marriage. No one had even a minute to give this generous man. They had missed out on the very thing that would have made their lives complete. They had traded the temporal for the eternal without ever realizing it. Sadly, not seeing the need to attend, these invitees were not asked to dine with the master again.  
 
There were others though who knew they were lacking in just about every area of their lives. When the master, having been rejected by the choice people of the city, extended an invitation to them to come to the banquet, there was no hesitation, no excuses. Fully understanding their inadequacies and longing to be filled by Him, they came running to this man’s table overjoyed to partake in the offerings of this man who had so much to give to them.
 
Lord,
 With all the dings and nicks my character possesses, thank you that you still find me worth saving. For all the times, I am too busy or impatient with you Lord, or situations or certain people, remind me of your constant patience with me. When my mind says it’s about me and what I deserve, help me to recall it is truly about you Lord and what you will for me. Direct me to focus on you so that I can see the inconveniences, painful happenings, and unpleasantness as necessary to your molding and making of the woman you intend for me to be.  And one final thought, God. I know me, and you have your work cut out for you, but Lord, I am willing. I am willing, and you My Father are able. 

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