Lurking almost unnoticed on the back of any car lot are what we used to
refer to as the pots. Older cars, less desirable models, in less than desirable
condition. Cars that were taken in trade to make the deal, but had no value
after that. Many would end up being auctioned off, sent out of state, or in So
Cal’s case out of the country, their usefulness as far as a bargaining tool worn
out, but their transportation abilities still intact. Mostly. They are the
cars that at one time had been bought for full price from a dealer as new, then
driven until they got too expensive to repair, or until a new car captured the
new owners heart. Some were passed down from husband to wife, then to each kid
as they got their license. Many memories were made in them, until they just had
no room left in the current owner’s life, and they were finally traded away.
And ended up in the back rows of a dealer, or sitting on the corner of a used
car lot, advertised cheap, and their purpose as transportation continued. They
were are affordable fun, bought knowing just what they are, but in many of the
new owner’s eyes a new Cadillac, sporty Mustang, or shiny hardtop. Bought for
love at one time, and finally sold for money, their history continues, as once
again they were bought for love, or what the new owner could afford, and were
waxed, polished, tuned up, new seat covers, and driven with pride. Worth very
little compared to when new, but maintaining a quality of dignity that years of
patina cannot erase, but only add to.
And I have had a few. A 1972 MG Midget, that had been repainted and the
letters reattached, spelling Midget as MIGDET. Finally traded for a 1973 El
Camino so I could carry my trials bike. Which got me through UNM my first
year. At one time a one owner 1967 Cadillac was my daily driver. Fast enough
to beat mid-seventies Trans Ams off the line, it got 6 mpg no matter how I drove
it, so I drove it fast. All bought as my primary source of transportation,
after my motorcycles. Another MG, a B model would fill a space later, as would
a 1949 Ford F-3 pickup. For cutting wood, sold after moving back to New Mexico
to a kid who wanted to hot rod it. At one time I had a 1967 Mercury Monterrey
as a work car, four door sedan with a 390. The sucker was fast, and came with a
letter from the Ford Motor Company stating the engine was a special built high
performance engine, not off the assembly line. All I knew it was fast, lost
high gear, and could carry my son’s small ATV in the trunk. Many a donut was
spun in that car.
And finally Uncle Buck, named as he resembled the car in the movie of that
name. But far removed from his Mercury, this 1990 Ford Crown Vic had a spotless
interior, a broken odometer, and left us stranded more than once. But we always
got home. The younger guys thought it was cool, and I sold it to one who was in
love with it. Affordable cars all, all bought second hand to fulfill their duty
as transportation, but becoming more than that along the way. For each one, at
the time they were affordable fun, and in each case sad when I sold them. Today
that $1000 Cadillac is worth 10 times that, the F-3 20 times, and when is the
last time you saw a 1973-77 El Camino? Midgets, or MIGDETs as mine was, where
have they gone? All used cars now, but at one time bright and shiny and new,
tempting the new owner with “what will it take to put you in this car
today?”
It seems these cars of our past, and our present, have followed a natural
progression. Much like many of our lives. And without a miracle many of us and
them would have turned out much different. Something to consider when talking
of Jesus and his miracles. Looking at all of them that are recorded, and then
the ones personal to us, he took normal events, and took them out of the realm
of time. Speeding up a natural process, that could only be defined as a
miracle. Take his first miracle, changing water into wine. Read his
instructions to his disciples, Fill the cisterns, all 120-180 gallons of them to
the brim with water. Then draw some out for the steward. No magic, no special
prayer, no taste testing, and no visible change. Until it is drawn out for the
steward, as new wine. Jesus never tasted it himself, for he knew. Speeding up
a process, he changes water to wine, changing water that is inorganic, to wine
that is organic. Bypassing the growing of grapes, the crushing, the bottling
and fermentation. I would call that a miracle...so did the wine steward. Who
wasn’t aware, all he knew was the best was saved for last. The best God saved
for last.....
So maybe that old car may look worn out and useless. But somewhere there is
a new owner just waiting to call it theirs. We may be feeling worn out, tired,
useless, broken and without purpose. Not even trade material, but God sees us
differently. And wants to change us, miraculously. Just like he changed plain
water to wine, he can take out sin riddled bodies, and make them new, just by
accepting him. A change that occurs from the inside, just like the water
changing to wine, no one saw it happen, it took no measurable time, but when
drawn out the evidence was there. Indisputable. Jesus changed water to wine,
imagine what he can do for you?
And he gives you a testimony to share with others, who see the change. And
the biggest changes occur in the lives that were, or had been thrown away. For
the widow who only had two mites, to the anarchist brothers, to the tax
collector, and simple fisherman. All who were not the highest in the social
ranks, but whom Jesus saw and loved. In his eyes we are all new models,
although we may be worn out and used. Or abused. Take the parable of the
affordable fun, and apply it to your life. Let Jesus change you, and find an
affordable life is within reach. And miracles abound when you do. For when you
start to see things through his eyes, even the simplest of miracles become a big
deal. And the initial process is instantaneous, saved instantly, but yet
growing in Christ each day. Just as an old car becomes a friend, so does
Jesus. And a certain relationship forms that cannot defined.
So here is to the cars in the back rows, on used car lots that were the
least of them. Before salvation we were the least of them, and Jesus sought us
out. We were no bargain, he paid full price, no matter our condition, and made
us new. Gave us a home, and loved us. Still does today. Become the miracle in
him today, something miraculous happens when we come to Jesus....reach out to
him and draw out a new life today. Water to wine, sinner to saint. All in the
twinkling of an eye....affordable fun. He calls it grace. We call it a
miracle. Bought for love.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com