How much would you pay for a car that doesn’t run, would take millions to
make it roadworthy again, but due to its rarity makes it collectible? In the
collector car market today we have both ends of the spectrum represented, from
the over restored they never left the factory that way to the barn find, parked
away years ago and forgotten, then someone stumbles upon it, looks up what it
is, and announces to the world their find. So how much would you pay, you will
never have to detail it, just store it away and keep it insured for lots of
money. Brag that “I have one and you don’t,” where both cars cannot be driven,
one will lose value as the miles are accrued, the other, well, the future
remains to be seen on that one. But recently a Ferrari, a 1969 Ferrari 365GTB/4
Daytona Berlinetta alloy was found in Italy and sold for $2.16 million. A
record for the model, but the rarity, only 19 were made with aluminum bodies for
racing, and the current barn find hysteria made it worth the price to the
bidder. A car that will never be driven, it cannot be or it will lose money,
like a car that is only original once, a barn find loses value if restored. The
patina makes it worth the money, a true buy for love deal. Now before you let
your wife read the story, and get excited about the old Chevette in the garage
under her scrapbooking supplies, that was parked because you couldn’t afford to
fix it, 35 years ago, know there is a difference between a Ferrari and a
Chevette, please explain it before she has it sold and the money spent on more
supplies. But sadly it often works the other way around....for example...
Meeting a man who would become a friend years ago, he admired my FJ1100,
said he had a 1200, great bikes. But when we met at his place, he failed to
mention his was a salvage job, painted Krylon black, with more dents and scrapes
than a demolition derby winner. It looked horrible, but he hadn’t lied, he
owned an FJ. Today I wonder if this wreck would be considered a barn find?
When working for Mercedes Benz many young men would come in with an old car that
needed more work than it was worth. But they bragged they “owned a Mercedes
Benz,” and to the right audience it may have worked, and more than one got upset
with me when I told them the repairs exceeded the value of the car. And would
argue, and we would end up fixing it anyway, again and again. But where to
start...
If it don’t run, you cannot drive it. If it don’t stop, same thing. Yet I
saw too many buy chrome rims, fake cell phone antennas, fake sheepskins, and
other things that didn’t help the car, but looked cool, at least in their mind,
on their Mercedes. At least they didn’t lie, they owned a Mercedes...
With thoughts of Irma and Harvey still dancing in my head, I look back to
volunteering in Joplin after the tornado in 2011. An eye opener in many ways,
but the biggest one was in how to help. We unloaded a 45’ trailer one night
with church donations, toys, water, clothes, etc. A sweet response, sadly most
was unusable. They needed container loads of water, not just a few cases, same
with food and medical supplies. These donations just got in the way, and the
infrastructure set up had no time for them. We learned that the Salvation Army,
Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, and Operation Blessing had things well in hand,
they just needed bodies, the item in least supply. So when our church started a
clothing and water drive for Hurricane Sandy, I told them just send money to any
of the above. But no, they wanted their presence made, to see them there
caring, they missed the real need of water for the dry, food for the empty, and
hope for the soul. I saw the pictures when they returned, they were the ones in
clean clothes, clean hands, but dirty hearts. It was all about them, but they
bragged on the good work they did, and how they made a difference. Maybe they
should have just stayed home and sent the check.
Dealing with the homeless, we see many churches go down during the
holidays, and bring cookies, old clothes, and pass out tracts to the poor. Once
a year they brag on how good they feel, just like the bikers who once a year do
toy runs, and are absent for the rest of the year. But sadly, the goods taken
down are taken by the ones who don’t need them, the strong or tough ones get
them first, and either sell them for drugs, or throw them away. The neediest
never get them, yet another myth exposed to the ones who mean well. I watch as
kids and moms make baggies of food and toiletries, and stand there while they
are taken. Another church I know of made up some CARE packs for the homeless, a
good idea, but they would never go where they live, so they gave them to me.
When one guy at Dustin Arms asked if he could have one, I gave him one, only he
wanted them all, to pass out to the poor. So I gave them all to him, and he
came back all excited. He was passing on to others as had been done to him,
meeting a need face to face. Just like Jesus, the original barn find, did. He
got out for our good, met our needs, and ministered to us one on one. He went
back to the one in the gutter, and sees the rich man in the big church bragging
on what he has done as the poor ones, in spirit. I watched as when they do show
up, in their designer jeans, and Gucci loafers, they all carry sanitizers, I
wonder, do they carry them when they go to church? Lots of dirt in some
churches...so Jesus tells us the poor will always be among us. We just don’t
look to the next pew. Or in the mirror.
If you want to help, send money to one of the organizations listed, they
are already on the ground and in place. Make your money work for them, and see
lives changed. Learn a lesson from UNICEF, another UN acronym, food and
supplies for kids in Africa, where the supplies made it to the countries, but
rotted on the docks because no infrastructure was in place, except for the gangs
who ruled the place, and they ended up with it all. God has an infrastructure
set up, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they cannot be beat. Ask him today what
to do, then obey. Make your donation count. Be bold in your asking, if he
urges you to go and help go. We worked with Operation Blessing and it was a
blessing. They knew what to do, were organized, and while others wondered, they
got it done. So what does this have to do with an old Ferrari bar find?
It’s really all about Jesus, the original barn find. And the value we
place on him. Some let them into their hearts and hide him there. Others get
out and minister. Some talk, some act. Some are in the way, some are in God’s
way. If God had let Jesus stay as he was found in the manger in the barn, he
would not be who he says he is, for he would not be resurrected. Something to
consider when you hear about a barn find. Jesus changes us so we can change
others by his spirit. By his spirit, not ours. There is a reason that old
Chevette is still covered in the garage and stuff piled in it. Ask Mother
Teresa, who when interviewed by a reporter in a dysentery filled hospital told
her, “I wouldn’t do this for a million dollars.” To which she replied, “either
would I.” She gets it, it is not what you drive, but how you are driven. And
if you invite me over, bragging about your custom paint job, as a courtesy
please hide the Krylon...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
