A Look Under the Hood

It looked like the perfect thing to replace my 1991 Toyota Camry, which is rusting out underneath. It was a dealer’s 2007 Camry with just 80,000 miles on it. The initial asking price was a little high, but the vehicle drove like a dream and was so clean and shiny. The salesman told me all about how the car’s one owner was a “tax man” in Maryland whose wife had died. First it was time for him to sell the house, now it was time to sell the car.

I was serious enough about the car that I decided to have my wonderful mechanics at Japanese Auto Clinic, take a look. And it was a good thing I did, because in addition to the $2,000 in repairs the vehicle needed, they determined that the engine was burning oil. And, having been the owner of a Chevy Vega back in the late ’70s and early ’80s (my father selected the car for me because he liked the color, red) that used almost as much oil as it did gasoline, I wasn’t going back down that road again. And so, the search continues.

The experience reminded me of my struggle not to be an “all or nothing” type person with others. I’ve spent too many years totally trusting people who were bright and shiny on the outside, people who then disappointed me in one way or another and were written off. These days, I work at treating everyone with respect and consideration, while waiting to see what the Inner Mechanic tells me about His analysis before totally opening up my dreams and fears and life to them. Like that 2007 Camry, we all have flaws. The question is whether we’re aware of them… and with God’s help, are working on them or trying to pass ourselves off as perfect today.