Journal - A Sad Day

Well, as some of you already know, last Tuesday, September 17th, we suffered the loss of a dear, dear friend: my truck, which Joni fondly referred to as “Destiny”. Yes, it was a tragic day. My 1999 Ford Explorer, which I have owned since 2002, met its end going up 2nd Avenue in Kearney.

First let me assure you that no humans were injured, but there was a rather violent collision that took the lives of two perfectly good American automobiles. I was driving up 2nd Avenue on my way to work Tuesday morning and just as I was entering the intersection at 33rd Street, a red car darted out in front of me. Of the two, I think my truck had more momentum going for it and was hardly moved from its original path, but I let it veer off the street onto the grassy lawn of a business that stands at that corner. The lady had been coming south down 2nd Avenue and was making a left turn at that intersection. There was a school bus on my side also making a left turn so that it was blocking her view of me, and my view of her. I never even saw her until she was right in front of me.

A sad day

After bringing my truck to a stop and turning the engine off (yes it was still running, what a trooper) I hopped right out and approached her car from the passenger side. I saw that it was a rather old lady inside, which gave me a moment of dread, but as I spoke to her through the passenger window she seemed okay: she was able to look me in the eye and tell me that she was okay. By that time a man had come out from a house nearby and together we got her out of the car. We decided to go ahead and do that because her car was full of the smoky gas from the airbags and she was clearly not seriously injured. I went back to my truck and, after digging around for a minute, found my phone and dialed 9-1-1. I told the operator that the lady didn’t think she needed an ambulance but the operator told me that someone had already called in the accident and the ambulance was on the way. Before I could even disconnect the call the ambulance was there as we were just a couple of blocks from the hospital.

So long Destiny

So anyway, some policemen were on the scene pretty quickly and began asking their usual questions. The lady decided to go to the hospital after all to get checked out and I subsequently learned from her insurance agent that she was fine. Then we were just standing around waiting for the tow-trucks. While we were waiting I took out my phone again and started taking pictures because I didn’t really know what else to do. Also, I suspected that would be the last time I ever saw my truck.

Coming home from Baltimore

Yep, I had my truck for 11-and-a-half years and we covered about 75,000 miles together. In all that time and all those miles she never let me down one time. Oh, I had the usual flat tires and dead batteries, but she never broke down on me or left me stranded anywhere. I remember the trip to Baltimore to pick up Joni and Adam and bring them back to Dallas where I was living at the time. That was a trip of about 2,700 miles round trip, and the return trip was with a U-haul trailer hooked up. My truck ran like a champ all the way. Joni called the truck “Destiny” ever since. We drove through a lot of rain on the way back too come to think of it. There were several trips from Dallas back home to Nebraska over the years, and of course that final trip when we moved up here in 2009. In 2011 and 2012 we made more trips to Omaha than I can remember to see my eye doctor. For a while it seemed like we were living in that truck.

Okay, I know I’m making a big deal out of dumb old car, but gosh darn it I really loved that truck. I really am thankful that no one was hurt. I know God doesn’t want us getting too attached to our earthly possessions but I suppose I needed a reminder of that. Each night before we go to bed, Joni and I read bible studies and passages from the bible. That night our bible study focused on how we should be willing to give up what we have. If you’ll indulge me for just a moment, I’d like to share the closing remarks from that study:

RESPONSE: Today I will live in the realization that people are more important than things.

PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to not be tied down by my possessions but be open to sharing what You have given me with others in need.

The main point was really more about sharing, but I think it applies pretty closely to my situation as well. I know I get too attached to my things sometimes and I should learn to be a little more fluid and flexible. That is something I’ll have to work on I suppose.

Matthew 6:19-21 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ESV

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. ESV