My friend Jim had his car repainted a year ago. He bragged
about the deal, a $399 paint job from Maaco, and it looked it to me. It had
orange peel, poor masking, and drips and runs were evident. But from my house
across the street it looked good, and probably from his living room window. It
was a 25’ paint job, and it looked good from 25’, but the closer you got it
looked horrible. He took offense to my initial comments, but soon they proved
true. A year from now I can only imagine how bad it will look, as the clear
coat is peeling. And all for only $399. He didn’t take into account the prep
work involved, for his money he could have bought a few cases of Krylon and his
rattle can paint job would have turned out the same. It is the prep work that
makes the paint job, and painting over blemishes, trim, and scratches may look
good from 25’, but they are still there under the new coat of paint. And will
surface sooner than expected.
Having spent most of my automotive career around high end cars,
I saw many paint jobs costing in the tens of thousands. One guy I know who only
paints Ferraris, starts at $50,000-just for the prep. But his work is without
fault, and he always has a waiting list for his work. And when you see it alone
it stands out, and when next to production line work, it exceeds even more. His
work is found in the details, the little things that others may overlook as
unimportant, and they take time. And if you want it done right, it takes time,
which costs money. But yet most of us can only afford a Maaco paint job, and
years before it was Earl Scheib, who could paint any car for $29.95. And
millions of them he did. Including a friend in high school. At $1.50 an hour
it took a few days to save up the $29.95, and on a 1949 Ford worth the $50 he
paid for it, the $29.95 almost doubled his investment, not counting tires, tune
up, and the oil it consumed like a two stroke Yamaha. But it was his, and he
spent many hours going through the Earl Scheib paint catalogue picking just the
right color for his car. Finally he found it, Caribbean Green, and when the day
arrived, I picked him up. Through the stench of enamel in the air, he left his
baby, anxiously going to school so that he could get out and get his car back.
All day he bragged about his Caribbean Green ‘49 to all of us, and we soon got
tired of hearing about it. But at 3:15 it was time, and I drove him back to
Earl’s, his $29.95 in hand. It had already burned a hole in his pocket. Paying
the cashier, she called for his car and out it rolled. It was green alright,
and maybe in the Caribbean you can see this color green, but it looked like a
giant pickle. Words cannot describe the disappointment seen on his face, his
car looked like a giant dill pickle-he was speechless. Slowly walking to it, he
found the doors painted shut-undoubtably part of Earl’s promise to paint the
door jams, and his tires having a faint green wall effect-Earl painted the
wheels too! And all for $29.95! Even a greenish tint covered the windows, and
the smell inside the car was unbearable-misty green air from the overspray. And
initially opening the windows took effort, as they had been painted shut!
And his planned new paint job car parade back to our friends
waiting to see his Caribbean Green wonder turned into a back street detour
hoping to evade anyone he knew. I even sat low in the seat of the Picklemobile
as it would be come to known, and although we all laughed, and still do, we all
felt some compassion for him. All his dreams squashed in one lousy paint job-at
least their were no brush strokes to be seen. And it is rumored he still has
Caribbean Green nightmares to this day, some 45 years later. And every time I
see a Shoebox Ford, from 49-51, I think of that car. Greater love had no man
for his car-until it was painted Caribbean Green.
Jesus told his disciples that no love is greater than the one
laid down for your friends. We automatically think of taking a bullet, or
serving time for a friend, but it works in the smaller things too. Riding in
the Picklemobile was showing love to a friend-maybe a bullet would have been
quicker. Potential dates would ask if that green car was his, and make excuses
to not date him. But we stuck with him, and even rode with him from time to
time. We went out of our way to feel for him, and even try to console him on
his color choice. After a few months we even started riding in the Picklemobile
again, as the paint fumes had subsided, but only on sunny days, when it rained
they were back. We knew that his paint job could have happened to any of us,
and he even referred to his car as the “P-mobile,” but only among us. Bruised
ego but fresh paint, we stuck with him. It must have killed him inside to see
his dream turn to embarrassment, but you can only die once. True friendship
endures forever. And that was the point Jesus was making. He died once for
all, we need to forgive on a daily basis, showing love and compassion-even when
Caribbean Green turns to dill pickle green. Forgiving and standing with a
friend in tough times can feel like dying, one ride in his car could confirm
that. But showing empathy, feeling with him, instead of feeling for him,
brought many of us embarrassment, which turned to loyalty defending our friend,
and his choice of colors. Jesus said he sticks closer than a friend, and if we
obey his commandments he calls us friends. We just never imagined it would take
a $29.95 paint job to prove it.
Sadly there are many people painted colors not on the chart.
Who are unlovable, but desperately need love. Jesus set the example of loving
the unlovable, of which all of us were at one time. But when he did we shined
like the sun, no $29.95 paint job, but a custom one, unlike any other. He took
the prep time to change us, and we need to take the time for others.
Remembering when we do it for the least of them, we are doing it to him. With
some afraid to ride in a Caribbean Green car with him. Take some time today and
be nice to someone whose paint job looks like $29.95. Show them love, maybe let
them ride in your deluxe life with you for a while. Beneath every bad paint job
lies a body who needs detailing before new paint is applied. Your love and
concern may be that prep work for salvation. We love him because he loved us
first. Remember that. We are all more than colors on a paint chart to
Jesus.
Earl Scheib’s paint jobs were always cheap, and even at $99.95
were lousy. My friend found that when you buy to a price, you get every penny’s
worth of it. Remember that next time you see a downtrodden person, or get
bummed yourself. A cheap paint job will only cover up what is underneath, not
make it better. Only Jesus changes us from the inside out, while we place
importance on the visible, he is more concerned with the heart-not seen. It
takes a lot of prep work before the paint is applied, and many still suffer from
a quickie salvation. Being born again is instantaneous, but we are still a work
in process. Only in death will we be fully matured. And for some the new paint
just covers the old. Saved but not changed. One ride in my friend’s
Picklemobile will verify that.
Jesus laid down his life so we can live. Exteriors may still be
rough, but it is what inside that changes us. Let his spirit guide you today,
and if it takes a ride home in a car where the windows have a green tint, the
tires have greenwalls, and every breath tastes like enamel, remember Jesus died
for him too. Take the time today, his Magic Mirror finish will shine on your
forever. Show it by loving someone in truth and deed. It may be the best ride
you ever take. And only for $29.95....colors oprional.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com