Quick, name the three largest automakers in the world? Which ones come to
mind? Growing up we had the Big Three, GM, Ford, and Chrysler, later adding a
smaller fourth, American Motors. With GM at one point having over 50% of the
new car market in the US of A, bragging quietly, because the Feds wanted to
break them up because they felt they were a monopoly, “we are losing one of
every two car sales.” Chevy used to sell 25-30% of new cars, with their brands
all within the top 10 in car sales. So quick, name the Big Three in 2018? And
be ready for a surprise....
GM is fourth, Ford sixth if you count Nissan-Mitsubishi as one after their
merger in fifth, and FIAT Chrysler America barely makes it in the Top 10 due to
FIAT. So who are the new Big Three? Volkswagen. Remember the Beetle, the
second car everyone seemed to have, now they are worldwide more people’s number
one choice. Toyota, with huge sales in China, who sold 28 million new cars last
year. 60% more new vehicles than the US of A. GM used to brag the Buick was
the #1 seller in China, no more. But number three may surprise you, Hyundai.
Yes, that Hyundai. Taking a deep breath, it is hard to think of a world
dominated by these three brands of autos, I have owned three Rabbits, my son
bought a Tercel in high school, and never a Hyundai has graced our garage. We
tend to be a Ford family, Mustangs and Rangers, I have friends still loyal to
the Bowtie brand, some bleed Mopar rust when asked. But have you ever heard of
anyone described as a VW man? A Toyota family? Your family drives Hyundais?
Where have all the car people gone? Are men not still men, or have they all
gone genderless in their car buying choices? Maybe the best answer is found in
miles per gallon as opposed to cubic inches, or how big the screen is on the
dash as opposed to the horsepower. True, the world has changed, but China, the
world’s number one auto buyer? Next you’ll tell me that Jaguars and Land Rovers
are owned by an Indian company that sells the world’s cheapest car?
Seems the world has been replaced with soccer moms and SUV’s, a far cry
from the secretary who drove the red Chevy convertible. To the extent that
Ferrari is toying with the idea of an SUV, but who among the latte set can
remember the Jerarri, when Bill Harrah put a Ferrari motor in a Jeep Wagoneer,
and tore up the roads in Nevada. When Carroll Shelby put a Ford V8 in AC car
and named it Cobra? When gear heads used to stuff Chevy small blocks in Jaguar
sedans, and a Boss 302 motor energized a TVR. Those were the days, can you
imagine the bench racing these days, “switching to the new Dynoclad Hydosonic
10, my sound system now has more power than my car.” Remember, hybrid cars are
here, and electric cars are next. Not so far fetched. No wonder mechanics are
now called technicians. Plug and play cars are here to stay. Lest we
forget....
When we started attending a new church, an ad in the bulletin stated they
were looking for mentors. I applied. was rejected because I hadn’t been
attending there six months, I read it as indoctrinated in how they wanted things
done, but was then called after they talked to my references. They must have
been desperate. But a meeting with the head of the ministry, put it all in
perspective. He wasn’t sure about me showing up on a motorcycle, or having a
beard and long hair, or even wearing a leather jacket. But we sat as he sipped
his latte, I passed, and he told me the book that they used to mentor. After
listening, I told him I wasn’t interested, as signing off on a course in no way
was proof of a problem solved. I had hurt his feelings. So I asked, “who is
the Trinity?” “Father, Son, and holy spirit, he answered.” “Are you sure?”
And suddenly, he wasn’t, he was only about what he had been taught. So I went
on, “are you sure it’s not father, son, and the word?” He paused, no he was
pretty sure he was right. So I told him he was, because the trinity is the
father, the son, and the holy spirit. But I began to tell him, that without the
spirit, who reveals the mysteries of Jesus, reading the Bible, the word, lacks
meaning. And his facial expression changed....
He went on to explain he was trying to get closer to God for years, reading
through the Bible for three years, he was a hit at men’s fellowship. He was
studying John again and again, and now he got it. All his studying was in vain
without the spirit’s guidance. He was doing as instructed, doing it on his own,
without the spirit. Now he got it! And how different his Bible reading would
be, as evidenced by our future meetings. His Big Three had been changed by
church policy, he was now on firm footing with Jesus, in the spirit, and his
eyes opened to a whole new way of life in Christ.
I did take the position, with the understanding I wouldn’t use the book. I
was already branded a rebel, and at the next meeting, endued the stories of how
many had completed the course. But deep down inside now he knew the difference
the spirit can make. But they had their final revenge, assigning me to a man
who was a skater with tattoos. A perfect fit for me they thought, although I
don’t skate and hate tattoos. Seems they still didn’t get it! Who are the Big
Three in your life? Maybe a Keith Green chorus says it best, “thank you oh my
father, for sending us your son, and leaving your spirit till your work on earth
is done.” Even Don McLean recognized “the three men he admired most, the
father, son, and holy ghost,” in American Pie. At least he didn’t mention the
car the disciples drove Jesus in, remember they were all in one Accord...
Think, can you imagine Christie Brinkley in a minivan or a red Ferrari?
Now on the subject of motorcycles....my Triumph Tigers are triples, I wonder, is
there a message there?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com