Deep breath. We accept and rejoice in the Lord's will for our lives, even when that will involves being stranded at 7-11 with places to go and no way to get there. May He be glorified in this telling of the story. Oh the crazy ridiculous frustrating hilarious story.
So last week, we took my car in for planned maintenance. It was due for inspection and ended up needing new brakes pads and shoes, as well as a new fan assembly and valve for the air conditioning.
I'm very good at sounding like I know what is going on in the automotive world. I actually just took very detailed notes when Ray called to tell me what everything would cost. More deep breaths.
So that was all well and good, because we are expecting my loan refund check and that great economy stimulus check later this week. But there was this problem with the fan assembly - Ray ordered it from Somewhere, whose employees are apparently unfamiliar with regular shipping conventions. The part was expected Friday....then Monday....oooh then it arrived Tuesday but....it was the wrong fan assembly. Do you see what I'm dealing with already here?
Meanwhile, I have places to go, people to see. Joel's doing great zooming around in his zoom-zoom, while I am canceling music lessons like nobody's business and begging rides from friends who stopped answering their phones after awhile (kidding). So we are already experiencing the stress and life-juggling of having only one car. Including the necessity of Joel picking me up from Covenant yesterday on his way (sort of) home from work.
Now for the fun part.
Joel and I are riding home. I had just (JUST) been on the phone with Ray, being informed that my car was not ready but should be done tomorrow (this is sounding familiar). He offered me a Chevy Tahoe as a loaner, but Joel and I conferred and decided that we could make it work with one car for a day (again). Our friends had all fled the state at this point, leaving no available free rides, but I could drop Joel off at work and pick him up, then hit the road for Jersey. Sweet.
So here's the timeline of the next little while:
5:40 Call Ray back and graciously refuse offer of Tahoe (because it's so big and Joel is uncomfortable with us driving it).
5:50 The zoom-zoom COMPLETELY OVERHEATED. Radiator = TOAST. Car = NEEDS TO BE TOWED. You see the problem here, of course.
6:00 Safely pulled over into 7-11. Assessed damage, phoned service people, discovered need for towing and repair. Car no zoom-zoom anymore. Zoom-zoom leaked out all over the engine.
Also. Places close at 6:00. Like Ray, with that Tahoe. And all rental car agencies within 50 miles. Oh, the irony.
6:?? Spent a good twenty minutes calling everyone we know. Finally found a friend within the state borders who could at least come drive us home (LOVE the Shomos! Thanks again, Ken!). He offered us their other car, but it's a manual. Figures. Driving stick is not a skill set we were prepared to refine on someone else's vehicle.
So here are Joel and I, at the complete mercy of anyone willing to drive us or lend a vehicle, lugging around all our stuff, including a big nTelos sign and his golf clubs.
Praise the Lord for His amazing provision. Ken was able to drive us to Joe's house, who has two trucks. He lent us the F-250, a.k.a. Great White. Remember how Joel was uncomfortable with us driving around a Tahoe for a day because it's so big? Well...
That tiny figure in the foreground is Joel.
In summary: In all our many years (1.5ish) of marriage, Joel and I have never felt so alone and helpless as we did when our one remaining car was stricken. Smitten, even. And afflicted? Perhaps. But at the very same time, we have never been more acutely aware of God's hand of provision in our lives. From the timing of my loan refund and the tax rebate to our winning a $500 raffle last week, the Lord has allowed us a strange peace (that surpasses understanding) about paying for all this car work. He has placed friends in our lives who show us the meaning of generosity; without our brothers and sisters in Christ, we would still be at that 7-11 (or about halfway home on foot). It is humbling to be forced to rely on others for something as basic as transportation, and yet we marvel at the grace demonstrated by all involved.
Needless to say, we spent an extra few minutes bowed over our Chinese take-out last night, thanking our sovereign Rock and Shield for lavishing His blessings upon us. For safety, for finances, for friends, and for Great White. We prayed confidently for one of our vehicles to be finished today in time for our New Jersey departure.
In the words of one John Newton, as re-sung by Matthew Smith:
Though troubles assail,
And dangers affright;
Though friends should all fail,
And foes all unite,
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide:
The Scripture assures us,
“The Lord will provide.”
The birds, without barn
Or storehouse, are fed;
From them let us learn
To trust for our bread;
His saints what is fitting
Shall ne’er be denied,
So long as ’tis written,
“The Lord will provide.”
....(verses omitted)....
No strength of our own,
Nor goodness we claim;
Our trust is all thrown
On Jesus’ dear name.
In this our strong tower
For safety we hide;
The Lord is our power,
“The Lord will provide.”
When life sinks apace,
And death is in view,
The word of His grace
Shall comfort us through;
Not fearing or doubting,
With Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting,
“The Lord will provide.”
("The Lord Will Provide", from the album "All I Owe". Available at www.igracemusic.com)
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