My car was so dirty, it was spotted with dirt as if it was sprinkled by a rain shower but not sprinkled enough. It was either face strangers writing "wash me" on my car or break down and wash it. I decided to not face ridicule and headed to my local car wash instead and got way more than I paid for.
After lining up my left tires for the car wash tunnel, we all know the drill...the car wash attendant pointed to a sign to take your foot off the brake and put your car in neutral. Rolled up windows is quickly learned.I put my car in neutral and entered the car wash tunnel. I always feel a bit like I'm in the boat ride in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as I do this. Try to recall your first trip to a car wash tunnel with all of the moving gadgets. It can be a bit startling at first. The sights, sounds and smells delight the child in all of us. My local car wash even smells like candy.
It's remarkable to enter the car wash so dirty and come out sparkling and shiny clean. What a transformation.! I got to thinking this last trip to the carwash...
What if this was God's or a higher power's carwash and we were the figurative car and the car wash tunnel was our lifespan?Would we be willing to put our car into neutral and let go of control to God (please insert your belief here)? Would we trust the process? Or would we question every step of the way? Why is this gadget used here?
Would we argue why things are done a certain way in our lives? Are we startled by a certain area of our car being treated in a particular manner? Perhaps we don't realize that a painful challenge in life like divorce, mental or physical illness or heartbreak over children actually buffed out a spot on us or our character and made us shinier.
Are we tempted to put our car in drive gear and go at a faster pace, thinking we know better than our Creator? Do we not realize that each step of our carwash and lives serves a purpose? Do we clench our hands on the steering wheel, trying to turn the wheel, thinking we're in control? This reminds me of the country song, "Jesus take the wheel" about giving control over and trusting God.
Would we believe we could be transformed into something amazing, better than on our own? Since we don't see the end result until the end, it's possible to lose hope and want to leave the car wash early by ending our life. Don't despair or lose faith.
God will take you the rest of the way to a sparkling destination and a shiny you, with all your dull spots buffed out. So, remember to put your car in neutral in God's car wash. Unclench your hands from the steering wheel and enjoy the ride. It's an awesome one.
