Look on the Bright Side!

Have you ever blown a head gasket? I don’t mean lose your temper, as the idiom is defined. I mean, have you ever been in a car that loses a seal in the engine? I have, and it taught me one of the best life lessons I have ever learned.

It was more than 15 years ago.  My husband received a check in the mail from a 401K from a former employer.  Frankly we had forgotten about the account and were quite surprised by this blessing from out of the blue. We decided to use it to buy another car since our primary vehicle had mechanical issues and very high mileage. The check we received was exactly enough to pay for a car our neighbor was selling and to register it as well. So we happily put the check to good use and bought the car. 

The  next day I planned to go to the motor vehicle department after work. As I was backing the old clunker out of the driveway for what ended up as the last time, I suddenly remembered the cell phone.  In those days my husband and I shared a cell phone and most of the time it sat in the house. It was 2002 and we were just beginning to catch onto the idea that cell phones could be handy. I thought to myself, “What if I break down?” Why that idea popped into my head, I’ll never know. Yet, I pulled back into the driveway and grabbed our cell phone from the kitchen and stashed it in my purse.

The ride started out like a typical ride to the office.  But that calm feeling did not last long. I was on the highway, less than five miles from the house when there was a loud bang and steam started to pour out from under the hood.  There was so much steam I could barely see where I was going. Fortunately I knew the road well and knew that there was a highway rest area just ahead.  I limped along on the highway for about a mile and coasted into the highway rest stop where the car died. Instinctively I knew that I had blown the engine.

My husband was at work and since I had dropped him off that morning I knew he would not be able to rescue me. My mind was racing as I contemplated who I should call. I decided to try our friend Tom since he worked nights; he might be willing to be my knight in shining armor. The timing could not have been better. At the precise moment I called he was on his way out of the house to run some errands. Oddly enough, he had decided to go back inside to grab a jacket when he heard the phone ring. He was only too happy to lend assistance and promised he’d be there in about 45 minutes. Quick calls to my boss and my husband apprising them of the situation followed.

So, what was I to do for the next 45 minutes to an hour? After strolling to the visitor center to get a drink I settled down at a picnic table to reflect on my current situation. Before long I pulled out a notebook and wrote:

I am thankful for:

·        The timing on the check. It allowed us to purchase the other car the night before

·        The children were not with me when I broke down

·        The prompting to get the cell phone “in case I had car trouble.”

·        The fact I caught Tom at the exact moment he was unlocking his door to return inside and that he was willing to come get me

·        It was a beautiful Spring day

·        I was able to limp to the rest area and was not sitting on the side of the Interstate

·        I was at a rest area that provided vending machines and bathrooms to make my wait a bit more comfortable

·        When I spoke to a police officer about potentially having to leave the car there for a while until we figured things out, he simply said, “Lady, we’ve got bigger problems to worry about. There is a wrong-way driver about 5 miles up the Interstate from here.”

Had I continued on my pathway to work, I would have encountered the chaos that a driver going the wrong way created. God, in His wisdom and timing, protected me from danger. He had provided my family with another vehicle at the precise time that we needed it, essentially at no cost. He also sent me a friend who was willing to rearrange his day to pick me up and take me to the motor vehicle department so that when I returned home all I had to do was put the plates on the new car.

I had two choices that day. I could have pounded my fists and gotten angry that the car broke down. Instead, I chose to see the blessings for what they really were. God was there, in the midst of my troubles. Sometimes all we need to do is to look for Him. Sometimes, if we listen hard enough, we can hear him whisper as one does to a child, “I am here. You’re safe. You’ll be ok.” Which will you choose the next time you are faced with an unforeseen circumstance?

My mother used to say that we need to “Look on the bright side.” As difficult as that may be, it is important to sift through the rubble of our lives and see that there truly is something to be thankful for even when things seem their darkest. When we start to see blessings all around us, we start to really appreciate things for what they are. Do you see the blessing or do you see the chaos? Which do you choose today?

Reflection:

1.      Think of a time when things were going wrong. Describe your feelings. Were you angry? Confused? Were you able to see the blessing?

2.      As a caregiver, it is easy to get caught up in the day to day chaos and miss out on the “silver lining.” What are some steps you can use to combat the clouds? (Every cloud has a silver lining.)