Being kids in the sixties, meant cars. And many a Saturday or school
holiday had us walking to Westfield, a whole mile away, and cruising the car
dealers. With all makes, read American, no Japanese invasion here yet, having
some sort of Muscle car, it was a rush to look, maybe sit in, and collect the
brochures we would drive in our dreams and in real life someday. I vaguely
remember Berse Brothers Studebaker, really the building where the store once
sold new Larks, Hawks, and Avantis now shuttered, only the signs and some old
cars remaining. Not much interest to a kid then, but now...Down the street was
the Chevy dealer, who we didn’t like and whose name escapes me. Maybe it was
Norris. With Chevelle SS396’s, Camaros, And Corvettes to look at and sit in,
the salesman had no time for us as they were selling 1 out of every 4 new cars
sold. But down the block sat Westfield Ford, with cool salesman who let us sit
in the Mustangs on the floor, many a mile was driven without leaving the
building. Maybe the seed was planted then as I prefer Ford now, and hove had
three Mustangs. Across the street was Lindemann Buick, lots of old men and old
men cars, but later when the Opel 1900 and Manta would arrive, a place to stop
and visit. Farther down the block was Reilly Olds, giving meaning as I look
back to “your father’s Olds,” later George would have 1967 442, Richard a 1972,
but it was cars like our fathers drove, nothing there for kids. But across the
street lay nirvana, as Rotchford Pontiac always had a row of GTO’s out front.
They sold excitement, and cool cars. Walking around the back to the body shop,
we often watched as the crashes were repaired, giving us a look behind the
scenes sort of speak, under hoods and inside. We heard the sounds, the smells
of the garage, and somehow it was intoxicating, still is today. The one thing
we never could understand was they were sharing a building with Dodge, even then
we knew the Big Three were separate, but Dodge and Pontiac? Go figure....
I still remember the first Chargers, 1966 with the fastback. And the
center console that went through to the back. Custom, WOW! Suddenly it was
noon and time to eat, and on across the tracks. Where Bob Miller sold Ramblers,
nothing there for us kids, my Dad drove a Rambler. But a brochure called X RAY
I would love to have again, as it compared all the models to each other. I
studied that book, with it’s AMC leaning, and still wanted a Mustang. But all
those facts and figure still couldn’t sway me, and many others too. The Mercury
dealer, Somerset had the new Cougar, and later would sell the Pantera. Wow, a
Ferrari in Westfield? Well, almost...they too sold Triumphs, the cars, the
Spitfire creating a desire in me for cornering and open top motoring. Like a
man once wrote, “nothing like the feeling of an open sports car on a country
road,” but I was years away from knowing. But with bucket seats, four on the
floor, and a hood that opened up the whole front end, it had to be a racer.
Said so on the posters....the dream ending at home with a Rambler in the
garage. By then it was 3 o’clock, and with a long walk home, it would be
dinner, a bath, and time for Chiller Theatre. And to read an reread the
brochures that sparked our interest, and gave us cars to dream about that
someday we would own. Free entertainment, all for the price of burger and
fries. A far cry from today’s auto parks, but somehow it all seemed bigger when
we were smaller. If only those car dealers knew how they set the tone for
future ownership....maybe Chevy would still be the way to see the USA!
It was on these test drives we got to know first hand about cars, to sit
and feel and smell them. To look under the hood, to speak to real men who sold
and drove them. To be given brochures, and treated with respect. Maybe even a
business card with the man’s name on it, we now had a friend there. And someone
to look up to....
Evangelism has been a sore subject for many years with me. Too often it is
street preaching, bothering tourists who want to go about their business like
you do, without interruption. Or it is passing out tracts, which later they end
up picking up off the ground. A last resort is inviting them to church, after
all it is the pastor’s job to get them saved, heard that one before. But the
one ingredient missing is the personal touch, listening and getting to know
someone. Living for Christ so they can see him in you. Most of the world
thinks the church only wants their money, true too many times, they only want to
build the church in numbers, or when a new person does come to church, is
confronted with words that are new, and they cannot understand. Because they
are different, maybe they are given one chance to be saved, and if not forgotten
about. A scenario I hope none of us ever compete in. Maybe if we treated
people as the car dealers did us kids, let us look at the product, sit in it,
answer questions, and maybe a test drive, perhaps evangelism would take on a
different tone. There are times I go to stores just to look, I don’t want to be
deluged, I just want to look. I know who the salesman are, and I will ask them
if needed. But don’t follow me around, I just want to look. It is the attitude
about them that helps me make the decision when it is time to buy, remember you
buy from a person first, the start of a new relationship. Same with
Jesus....
The holy spirit starts a stirring inside, we all know someone who goes to
church, maybe even might be a Christian. So we talk with them, find they are
the same except for Jesus. We get to know them, and find out this Jesus is more
than a Sunday revenue enhancing experience for the church. Christians really do
love, they really pray, feed the hungry, and work with those in need. Just like
Jesus said. Sometimes a Sunday school lesson is remembered, and soon the spirit
is moving. Jesus knows when the time is right for them to be saved, no end of
month special, no special speaker, or service. Jesus saves, sometimes despite
well intentioned people, but without that first interest sparked by the spirit,
you labor in vain. It is God’s job to save, not ours. If in doubt, look to the
cross, who died on it? You? Case closed...
But what about evangelism? Yeah, what about it? We are called to be
witnesses, not to witness. To live a life reflecting the love of Jesus.
Showing love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, meekness, and self
control. Who wouldn’t want to have those qualities? But do we reflect them to
win an argument, or do they come from the heart? How many have been sold
religion and thought they got Jesus? Again it takes the leading of the
spirit....which influences car sales, motorcycle sales, dating, and every choice
we ever make. Why blow it on the big one? Evangelism isn’t salesmanship, it
should lead to salvation. Were you talked into Jesus or di you come
voluntarily? True love demands a choice, it cannot be forced upon or
legislated. So maybe those trips to the car stores weren’t really wasted, maybe
they were more than free time spent looking. They led to car ownership one day,
when we were ready. How many cards saved were used to look up that salesman
when we were ready? How may times did we see a plate frame with that dealers
name on it and remark, “ I know Joe there.” We had the connection. He may
never sell us a car, but he planted seeds for the future.
So sew seeds of love and kindness. Jesus was both. Still is. The spirit
is calling to many today, maybe you. But God’s servants have run you off. Seek
God, he will draw you unto himself, he will put real persons in your way to
guide, and soon you too will claim ownership of salvation in Jesus Christ. Way
beyond a sticker, way beyond the church, you now are part of the family. With a
testimony to share to encourage others. Inspired by the holy spirit. Just
looking, we all were at one time. Questions, I still have many. But now I know
where to go to ask for the answer. It is possible that the Chevy dealers
attitude towards us kids influenced my car buying today. Don’t let one bad
experience keep you from Jesus. You just might be that man a ten year kid has a
question for, “hey Mister, can I sit in that car?” And your answer would
be...the seeds of today bloom into beautiful flowers tomorrow. You always buy
from the last guy you talk to. So throw some today. Life may just be a red
convertible away...
love with compassion,
Mike
mattehw25biker.blogspot.com