I was there in 2006 when the black wheels started showing up on new cars.
Really as options or aftermarket, and I bemoaned the passing of chrome again. I
will admit that on some cars they had an aggressive look, but one orange Land
Rover we put black wheels on looked ready for Halloween. I guess some color
combos are good for certain holidays, but have no place on cars. But looking at
new cars yesterday, first the prices put off, the average new vehicle sold for
over $35,000 last year, but so many had black wheels as part of an option
package. Which took away from the good looks of certain cars. I can go with
blacked out trim on certain colors, but the black wheels just don’t bring out
the bright blues, bright reds, or any bright color. But since most cars are
black or shades of gray, maybe it’s alright, and I’m the one who is missing the
point. I keep looking back to when any car you put Cragar SS wheels on looked
better.
We had a family where I grew up who had a 1963 Chevy wagon, dark blue and
plain, except for the Cragars. Outstanding. I know we all have our
preferences, I once had a van with American Racing Mag wheels, but still the SS
can dress up any car. Seems the brightness of the polished chrome brings out
the bright colors of the car, even black or white. From drag racing to Muscle
Cars to mom’s wagon, they were the cool custom wheel for any occasion and any
car. So pricing them for our Mustang, I went into shock. $2000 dollars of
dream later I will get used to the black, but not on any of my cars.
Trim whether black or chrome is supposed to set off the lines of the
vehicle. Too much chrome and it looks cheap, not enough the same result. It
seems with chrome rims we were always keeping them shiny and clean, these black
ones I cannot tell if they are clean or dirty, but a look at the cars confirm
it-dirty. Maybe that explains the 50 shades of gray cars come in, you cannot
tell if they are clean or dirty, so who cares. But chrome wheels, they demand
attention, and looking at a truck with chrome rims in the driveway here, they
are filthy, like the truck. Can it be that chrome defines our hygiene? I have
this philosophy that the condition of one’s car tells a lot about their personal
life. What color are your rims? How clean is your car? I haven’t been wrong
yet.....
God tells us that he is the potter and we are the clay. In the potter’s
hands we all start out as clumps, but as he fashions us, we are given form and
life. In his hands via the spirit, the earth went from void to having form when
created, and we do too as Christians. Some of us were pretty bad examples of
lumps of clay, and many of us are still a work in process, hopefully with
progress. But sadly like wheel choices change, so do what is popular socially,
and Jesus has never been the social climber many Christians hope he would be.
They fail to see that the potter shapes the clay, and they want to be the
potter. Out of nothing God created us, out of the dust of the ground we were
formed, but when the spirit was added, water being used as a symbol throughout
the Bible, we are given form and life. And when the potter sees an imperfection
in the clay, he can start over, or make corrections. His choice, for he knows
what he wants, and shapes us accordingly. We fail to see the circumstances of
life shape us as we are on the potter’s wheel, we get dizzy and want off. We
call it fashion, and being trendy has never grown any one closer to God. But
then neither have chrome rims....
It may be that we like to control things, that we rebel against the potter,
or we know better. Yet he who created you for his glory knows best. Styles
change, as do wheels, but Jesus stays the same. As does the potter’s wheel, the
same basic design, but now powered by electricity instead of by a foot. Maybe
something to consider when we talk of the invention of the wheel. I am
continuously amazed at all the different wheel designs, remember when hub caps
were king? But as trends change, fortunately God doesn’t, but he wants to
change us, to make us the perfect design he had in mind. Yet we settle for
wheel covers, that look like rims but are a fake. Could it be that only car
guys who are passionate about cars love the old Cragars, and that those of us
passionate about Jesus look to the potter’s wheel? Both wheels help define who
we are. Only Jesus makes the difference.
Clay has never changed, nor has the shape of the wheel. Nor has Jesus.
Our interpretation has. Not sure of the next trend in wheels, I hope chrome
comes back and Cragars again are affordable. But I also hope that the potter
continues to shape me as he sees fit. One size does not fit all, but one God
loves all and created all, and still spins the wheel that defines us. But still
some of us are crack pots, that only need to be dipped in the water of the
spirit to be made whole again. Only a wholly God can make us whole. Only his
spirit can guide and change us. As always the one behind the wheel has control
over where we are heading. Black or chrome, in the potter’s hand we all will be
made holy. By a wholly god who is complete and whole in all things. Chrome
never left, it has just been temporarily replaced. Jesus never left either, for
he left us his spirit. Both are making a comeback, only one will come back.
Tighten your lugs and be prepared for the ride of your life. Some thought they
were a big wheel until they found out squares don’t roll. Cragars can make any
car look finer. But trust in Jesus first.....
Your wheels should look so good!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com