I needed to invest a little money into my 15 year old car a couple weeks ago, sufficient money that I had to think carefully if it was worth doing. The more I thought about it, the more I kept thinking it was definitely a parallel to something else...

When a car starts out in "life", it is shiny and new and clean. It can he abused right away of course, driven through mud and off-road (or left parked on some shady street in Boston). but normally a car is taken pretty good care of for many years. The new owner usually has some pride in his choice, and will wash it when it gets dirty; rotate the tires, etc.

After years of faithful service, though, it becomes "difficult". The fool thing becomes set in its ways. It may only start after three pumps of the gas pedal (not four, but three shall be the number. Not two unless immediately followed by three...). It may be cranky in cold weather. It might squeal like a pig when the road is wet, and the heater may decide it's going to be either tropical or artic with nothing in between.

Also the interior and exterior aren't as spiffy and new as they used to be. Shopping carts may have pinged it, and children spilled milk shakes and French fries. You start to think it's time to get rid of the car, or at least stop caring for it. You many get minor dents and damages and shrug them off as too expensive of body work. Eventually a major mechanical problem will come up that will cost more than the car would be worth if sold so off to the salvage yard it goes. At least that is the fate of most cars. Even if we drive them until the wheels fall off, eventually they end up crushed scrap.

Some cars.,though, just a few, don't travel down that particular road. Someone sees something in them of value and restores them. The longer they are driven uncared for the harder this is to do. Many of these few survivors of their day are the only one of their kind left, and in the end become more valuable than they ever were before. In fact, just about any car that manages to be kept long enough becomes precious and praiseworthy. Usually meticulously cared for, they are maintained in a pristine and unblemished state for all time, priceless.

Children are wonderful, are they not? Shiny (smiles) and new, they delight parents who take great pride in showing them off. While some children are abused, most are loved and cared for with joy by their “owners.”

After time. Though, they become difficult (teenagers!) and very set in their ways. They may only come to dinner after being called three or four times. They become cranky, and squeal like stuck pigs when you expect them to.. gasp… get up and move around! Their mood seems to be either tropical or artic, as you get either hot anger or cold indifference with nothing in between.

And then they have ugly habits inside and out. They don't dress as well as they could and their mouths might reveal an inside that's just as grungy. You start to think it's time to let them go off into the world to crash and burn as they see fit. When they start to hassle you about things, you let some go as not worth the effort to argue over. Finally a major crisis comes up in their lives and unlike the car it's them that have to choose to do right or wrong. Many, if not most, choose wrong: and take a life leading to destruction.

But a few don't travel down that road. Some see the true value in themselves and turn towards the one who shares in that value and makes it a truly wonderful thing: God. It's never too late until the very end, but the longer they wait in life to do this the harder it is to do. Many times these folks are the only one of their friends who makes this right choice. God has the power to restore them to their original, sinless state. They become whiter than snow, clean again at least in God's sight. And the longer they last, the more good works they pile up and the more precious and praiseworthy they become not only to God but to all of us who know them. The value of a clean soul? Priceless!

So I fixed my car, spending the money and not looking back, other than to remember this lesson I was handed by the opportunities in life. You see, I do have a certain fondness for the car and I see a fair amount of value in it. But in particular, I fixed it to make it safer because soon it will contain something even more valuable to me. My (driving) son.

Randy