Do you remember the thrill of washing your first car? Mine was the best ever! A 1968 American Rambler with a white roof, teal body, and perfectly upholstered teal seats. (Don’t tell my Rambler, but I had my eye on a ’68 Camero, but someone purchased it before I could ask how much.) :)
As it turned out, I couldn’t imagine owning a better first car than that Rambler. I’d emptied my entire savings account to pay for it. I lived in NJ at the time and winters were horrid. But my little jalopy took me everywhere I needed to go. So, with great joy one fine April morning, I hauled out a bucket of soapy water, a hose, and a sponge, and gave my baby the first of many baths.
Here in Idaho, car washes occupy nearly every street corner – a far cry from do-it-yourself scrubbing. For a time, my hubby and I bucked the trend. But after many miles on icy, slushy, muddy roads, we yielded to this decadent convenience. What an experience!
At the entrance to the car wash, a teenager with a bright smile waved us in. Though we couldn't see them, he ensured that our tires fit perfectly into the tracks on the ground. As soon as we shifted the car into neutral, voilà, it began to roll into the tunnel.
When a green light flashed, Smiley picked up a hose and squirted our car with a sudsy film. Then he disappeared. Actually, everything did. To our surprise, we rolled into a soapy cloud that progressed to a torrential downpour with catastrophic gusts. Ah, but once the storm ended, we could see perfectly through a sparkling clean windshield. Little did we know, we had yet to endure a heat wave. Large red lights descended, automatically air-drying our car. Then, the lights retracted, and we continued on the tracks toward a closed garage door.
Wait - shouldn’t someone open the door – soon!? As quick as a prayer, the door opened and we happily rolled toward a flashing green light that said “GO.” Once we shifted the car into drive, we left the tunnel and traveled down the road to home. No longer car wash novices, we’ve learned to enjoy the experience. Safe in our little bubble, we sometimes bring coffee to sip while the storm rages around us. We’ve even taken our precious grandchildren with their frozen yogurts along for the ride. And always with excellent results—a squeaky clean car.
The more I thought about the car wash process, I recognized its similarity to our Christian life. We come to the Lord, and He graciously takes us just as we are—even if we’ve driven off road, so to speak. With His warm, brilliant smile, He waves us forward, and by His Holy Spirit He directs us onto the right track. But, unlike Smiley at the car wash, He stays with us through blinding storms, harsh winds, and scorching heat, into His glorious light of day.
As we travel life’s road, the more we lean into Him, trusting Him for the things we can’t see (faith), our relationship deepens. We grow to love and praise Him more and more, in seasons of plenty, pain, or problems. One day, all the rocky ridges and slippery slopes will vanish. We’ll come to the green light, the moment we’ll shift into “GO.” And we’ll head home, into the arms of Jesus! In the meantime, we’re endeavoring to bring family and friends through this life’s exciting “car wash.”
How about you?
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Tim. 4:2, NIV)
I love your analogy! Thank God, He goes with us through the midst of the storms. He knows what's ahead, and He will guide us every step of the way:) And He uses every drop to shape us into the people He has called us to be.
It's very hard for me to go through a car wash...good on ya!
Good post!