CAR SHOPPING

Today was the second Saturday in a row that I spent the bulk of the day driving from used car place to used car place trying to find a vehicle for my youngest daughter, who is 17 years old. Last Saturday we searched down south in Illinois -- today we went north toward Milwaukee. We want to be wise about what we get her -- nothing too expensive because (well, you know) -- and nothing overly inexpensive because (well, you know). Still, what we're looking for is a whole lot closer to INexpensive than it is to EXpensive. So, we (I mean, I) have searched the internet and the newspaper ads and the local used car magazines to find what's out there - then we set the GPS and off we go.

And I'm finding that our daughter is VERY VERY picky. I have no clue how she comes by that characteristic. Something is wrong with everything. Here are some actual statements she has made over these two days of car hunting ...

"Is it supposed to make that noise?"

"What's that smell?"

"There's some rust on the bumper."

"Why is every car in this price range green or purple?"

"Where is the CD changer?"

"Can't we find a car that doesn't have any scratches?"

"Ewww."

"Do you see that stain on the floor?"

"I'm pressing the pedal all the way down and this is as fast as it goes?"

"Where is the cigarette lighter?" (DAD: 'Why? Why would you care if there is a cigarette lighter -- you don't smoke, do you? I hope you're not smoking!' HER: 'No Dad.' [quiet sigh] 'I don't smoke.' DAD: 'OK then.')


It's been fun.

And I was just thinking - at the risk of over-spiritualizing here - that is really what we do with each other. A lot. We find these little things that are wrong with one another - things that rub us the wrong way. Sometimes we mentally (or even visually) circle the other person to make sure they are someone we would want to know or be close to -- or not.

Maybe it's a scratch - or a dent - or a missing piece. Maybe it's a wound that is still wide open. It's a scar that hasn't healed. It's a noise that rubs the wrong way.

And then we evaluate.

But what we fail to notice - usually - are OUR scratches - OUR dents - OUR missing pieces and wounds and scars. We've grown comfortable with them - we've gotten used to them, haven't we? And yet, other people overlook them in order to love US.

I know what's going to happen when we finally get that car for my daughter. It's GOING to have a scratch here - a dent there - something soiled over here - an imperfection over there. And she's going to grow to love that car - eventually. Stains and all. Over time, those things will become part of the history and character of the car for her. She'll get USED to them. And she'll end up LOVING that car. It will be hers. And when somebody starts to trash-talk about it, she'll actually be upset.

She'll say: "Hey! That's my CAR you're talking about." And that's right. That's right.

You finish the analogy. And be blessed.