A Week Of Thanks 2

Have you ever taken your vehicle in for a simple oil change and the mechanic hands you a list of things that are wrong or required maintenance tuneups that cost you additional money? You wonder if these are really necessary. The car runs fine. You've had it for 3 years and it never needed additional work; with the exception of manufacturing defects. Those were covered under the original warranty and didn't cost anything. Now you have to decide if these are optional or necessary expenses. If you plan to get 200,000 miles out of your car, (as my husband does) do you go ahead and have the work done when it doesn't seem that important?

Recently I've noticed that the vehicle I was given to drive through life requires greater maintenance. Over time, it doesn't run as smoothly as it used to. It isn't as fast or sleek either. I figured the more fuel I put in it, the more it would burn. I was wrong. Sort of like the time I put premium gas into the Suburban. I nearly killed it. Why did I think more expensive, rich, higher octane gasoline would make it happier and run better? It didn't. The Suburban was made to run on regular. My Honda is different. It requires the finer things in life. I have never once put regular into my S2000. It would choke and sputter. Nothing but premium will do. Am I more like a Chevy Suburban or a Honda S2000?

I begin making a list of the required maintenance projects and vehicle inspections I've been told are necessary. I question whether I should mention to my mechanic the pinging sound I've heard. Should I bother to take her to a body shop and point out the new dings and dents or ride those out? In spite of my attempts at cramming in the usual adjustments before the end of the year, things start breaking. Indicator lights flash at me. Instead of getting shorter, the fault list is growing longer. I wonder if I'm as healthy as I think I am. The list makes me feel rather pathetic. I feel old and worn out. I'm only at 75, 000 miles, it shouldn't be this bad.

"That's it?"

"What?" I don't hear as well as I used to either. Could you repeat that? I hear the faint whisper again, "where is the other list?"

"What list?" I ask. "I have to make another list? I don't think I can take it."

The Holy Spirit whispers again. "Where is the other list?"

"One isn't enough? Oh no, don't tell me I have a whole list of maintenance on my soul and spirit too."

"Where is the list of the parts that are working perfectly? The cells, joints, and marrow. The muscles, tissue, and organs. Vessels, villi, veins. Hair, heart, hands..."

Wow! That would take the rest of my life to list every little thing in my body that operates well every single day.

I look back at my list. What I thought was a pathetically long arduous task, suddenly became a tiny speck-hardly worth mentioning.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:7-9