Well, we were well on our way to Lubbock to see some friends, when 3 miles south of Eastland, it felt like the car abruptly shifted into neutral, without my beckoning.
So, I coasted roughly a mile until the car rolled to a stop in front of a nicely gated fence. Using the trusted iPhone we frantically looked for a wrecker/auto mechanic. Of course, our luck was that the rule of thumb in Eastland is that at 5pm, everybody rolls up all the shops.
So, we were stuck.
Stationed at the brick fence, a large white pickup pulls up and asks if we need help. He begins to call a couple of people, but to no luck.
Stuck.
Abby gets on the phone with roadside assistance and me and the guy in the white pickup (Bill) strike up a conversation about where we’re headed (camp), and what I do for a living (minister of the gospel).
He loves Jesus too.
So, now I’m stuck with a guy who loves Jesus, but knows nothing about cars… Come to find out though, he’s a lawyer and a genuine genuine man.
All this time, I keep looking at the transmission as if the more I look at it, it will be fixed. Abby in the meantime is calling for a wrecker and they say they’re on the way and will be there in 15min (I don’t believe it).
Bill leaves, still stuck.
We wait for a while, Bill brings his wife Karol (Carrol, just spelled differently). They bring water for Ebenezer, and some snacks for us (how thoughtful). We talked a little bit more and come to find out Karol’s uncle was a founding member of Woodway. (providence right!?)
Wrecker comes in that 15min and Roger (wrecker) picks us up and takes us to not Eastland, not Cisco, but Abilene. On the way, we almost hit a cow, skipped dinner, rented a Kia Rio, and talked the gospel with Roger. We dropped the car off at a dealership and will tackle that in the morning.
Tonight, we’re shacking up at a Best Western because they allow pets.
At the end of the day, our car is broken, we’re misplaced for a night, out quite a bit of cash ($2000 is my guess), but not once did Abby or I get upset with one another or lose our patience over the whole deal.
In all this I kept doing something I was challenged to do to myself earlier this week: preach the gospel to yourself always. This is the idea; on a regular basis, remember that which God has done for you (died for your sins and my sins) and by doing this, any setback/minor trial (VERY minor) really sinks into perspective. It’s just not that big of a deal, really.
So, tonight, I’m stuck, stuck on the gospel, for his glory and because of his grace.