If you want to cheese off your mechanic, work on it first. And if you really want to cheese him off, take it apart for him, then give him the mess you created. Can you fix my bike, I put all the pieces in those boxes. Thanks, buddy. Mechanics hate to finish a job that someone else has started. They hate coming in to clean up someone's else self inflicted wound, and sometimes their only recourse is to make you pay for your indiscretion, meaning open your wallet-wide, and they'll tell you when to stop. A stupid fee tacked on, one the government never sees, and is not deductible. And we have all been guilty of it, trying to save time or money, or even trying to do it yourself. I had a friend tell me recently, I can remove the head easily, no big deal. But can you replace it? On the street? With few tools? No parts department to replace part you break? Have you ever done one before? And after his bruised ego began to heal, he admitted there is a reason things cost what they do. Built into each job is a factor of security, knowing that a trained person did it, and I shouldn't have to worry. We called it a cheese 'em off factor. No matter how much money you may save doing it yourself, it wasn't worth the aggravation-and never the money saved. Particularly when you ended up towing the car to the shop anyway, having the tech laugh behind your back, and then charging you more to fix things you screwed up. Any relation to persons living or dead is purely coincidental, and no names have been mentioned to protect me.
But yet we are a society who values trying before giving up. And fails to recognize that having someone trained to do the job is not a weakness, but a strength. Someone who will hold the wrench while you turn the car, not the other way around. And I learned-albeit pride fully, that it is easier to let someone trained do it than let me ruin it. Plus it cuts into my riding time. Which is why I have good friends who are trusted mechanics, but never ride with them. While they wrench, I ride. On rides, if someone breaks, they fix. And they never get to fully enjoy the ride, for some fool always takes the time to break so they can be inconvenienced.
Don't ask a doctor on the street for free advice. You will get what you paid for. Lawyers, the same. And mechanics-if he says bring it by so he can look at it, he means park it out front, and when he goes to lunch he can look at it, and when going home also. Yeah, looked at it twice today, probably will again tomorrow. Don't bother me-I'm busy!
So as our Bibles gathers dust, we search the internet for answers. We go on blogs, talk rooms, and Google our problem. And finally when our life is more broken than when we started, we call on God, or pick up our dusty Bible. And then search for a scripture that we like, and there-God has answered my request. But more times than not, just found a convenient way out. Do you have more time on the net, than in the Word? Can you find Blueletterbible.com faster than the book of Jonah? Hmmm, what page was I on? And then do you voice, e, or other mail a friend in despair for help? When God was there the whole time, knew the situation, the problem, and the solution. And all you had to do was ask!
He wisely tells us to seek Him first. We aren't the first generation to try to fix it ourselves. But we may be the last. Let God be God, He's up to the job. He has the parts, the tools, and the knowledge to fix your problem. And will show compassion to you when your new bike comes to him in four boxes, instead of two wheels. He won't laugh behind your back-that is the universe, or in front of your either. And-He is always available, you don't cut into His riding time, and no appointment necessary.
Like the ad says, pay me now or pay me later. Aren't you glad Jesus already paid the price, and left the door open so we can visit any time we want? Your car or bike shouldn't come in boxes, and your life shouldn't be spent inside one. Do something daring today-trust God, the first time. And then maybe when I call, we can ride together. A better testimony to us and our relationship with Jesus than making payments, sadly, when the job still isn't done!
love with compassion,
Mike
