Dear Friends,
I need to tell you a story I recently lived. You may know that I like to work on cars and I’d like to think everything I touch, I can fix. I frequently invite our children to let me repair their cars as a way of saving them some money on costly repairs. Recently I tried to fix our daughter Hannah’s 2005 VW Golf.
We arrange the Saturday. She bought the replacement struts for the front end. Her boyfriend Cameron was going to help with the work. The day came. Cameron and I spent the next eight hours disassembling parts of the car. Before our patience wore thin, we tried to reassemble the car, but failed. We didn’t have a few special tools. So, later that week and later the next week, after getting the special tools and after assembling and reassembling the front end five times, I took the car to the garage to have the car fixed by professionals. It now has new struts and runs great!
Here are my take aways: 1) Be humble and realistic. I can’t fix everything and it’s okay to admit it. 2) Ask for help. Recognize when things are un-fixable by Shade Tree Mechanic (that’s me). 3) Share the lesson. I am talking about this to you so you know what I know – and that is, I don’t know enough. 4) Learn to laugh. This lesson in mis-directed mechanics is now becoming legend at my house. The re-telling of this misadventure is taking on mythic proportions. The key question is: will I ever live this one down?
Well, I have had my slice of humble pie. That’s all for now!
Warmly,
Pastor Peter (aka “Shade Tree”)
Pastor Peter J. Blank
P.S. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” James 4:6. Stay humble my friends.
Complete September Newsletter: sept 2015