The adventure goes like this...
Here I go, traveling down a major road to pick up my 12 year old from school. Not too far from home (maybe a little under a mile, I still want to go measure) the car begins to decelerate, lights light up on the dashboard and I realize I can no longer accelerate with the gas pedal. Luckily, in the 10 seconds this happens, I am in the right most lane and quickly make my exit to the shoulder of the road. I look down at my gas gauge which, ironically, is blocked from my view by a little doctor appointment reminder card. No wonder I haven't seen my gas gauge go down and down and down. I couldn't even see the low fuel light warn me of the impending doom that awaited me! My car might have warned me vocally, but again, I was listening to a story with one headphone in, taking advantage of the short "me" time.
Well, I am sure most of you have experienced this unfortunate first in your lives, so you know how it goes. After a quick prayer, I began to access the situation. I am not too far from home. I have a cell phone. Quickly I called the school to have Bianca ride the bus home. In between the short spurts of nontraffic I call home, explaining the situation to my 10 year old son. I ask him to go and grab the lawn mower gas can and hop on Bianca's electric scooter and meet me as I trek back. By the time I get to the street we turn into our neighborhood my dutiful son is on his way to meet me. He wisely thought to put the gas can in a plastic sack and hang it from the handle bars and scoot his way to rescue his Mom. We exchange positions and there goes this 37 year old mom-of-five down the sidewalk of 2 major roads, back to her depleted, empty and neglected car.
The hot pink scooter is not meant for the before-mentioned adults, or adults in any shape or form, but put-puts with a little oomph. Mostly the speed is achieved by mom's self powering kicks. But, rounding the corner and seeing the backside of my car puts newfound determination in my kicks. Worries of completely being sprawled out on the pavement leave and I have that little inkling of a thought of what it would have been like for the pioneers to reach the Salt Lake Valley. Okay, I have no right to think that I was so deprecated to have that kind of experience, but can I say I was inspired to put in more enthusiasm?
After successfully putting the gas in, between the groups of cars that I had to monitor as not to cause any accidents or be killed myself, I started down the road towards the nearest fueling station.
I said a silent prayer, feeling grateful for my safety, my cell phone, my son knowing where to find the lawn mower gas can due to his experience of having mowed the lawn many times, having gas in the gas can, having a hot pink scooter to more quickly expedite this whole process, my daughter getting the information in time to be able to ride the bus, and most importantly to gain this experience. Because as I was working through how to do something as simple as refuel my car I was taught another lesson...
Many times in life there is something, that most likely we willingly place in our lives, that inadvertently blinds us from something that may really matter. Something that blinds us as we are being spiritually, physically or even temporally depleted dry. Empty. Out of gas. I can see this applying to so many things in life. Then we have a wake up call when we are stranded on the side of the road. We have so many helplines in life. Are we looking to the true source of help when we have come to the realization of what we have done? Can we turn to our Savior, first to ask for forgiveness as we have neglected something so important to our well being? Do we truly believe that he has the power to "refuel" us when we are empty?
"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:16-17
For "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13
It is my wish this holiday season that we remove those blinders in our lives and refuel it with the love of God. That we may go about spreading peace and goodwill. Be a little kinder, smile a lot, and "fuel up" our fellow brothers and sisters that may be on empty.
Lots of love,
Candace
1 comment:
So sorry you had to deal with that. Everything worked out better than it could've. I should probably show the kids where the fuel is so when that happens to me they will be ready:) Great analogy also!
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