Walking Thoughts

I drive a white 1993 Camry. When I first got the car it had maybe 6 or 7,000 miles on it.  Today, my odometer reads 110k and some change.  This car has seen a lot; trips to Baltimore, upstate NY, two trips to Boston (once from Richmond and once from DC), Northern VA and DC traffic, and an assortment of other "adventures" and minor "bruises."  Needless to say, my car has some visible signs of its 12 year history.

In highschool I used to take really good care of my car - I washed it every other weekend, vacuumed the inside, emptied out the trash tray, shined the wheels and scrubbed the hubcaps.  Had no clue about how the engine worked but man oh man, my car shined :o) It didn't make it run better one bit, but it sure did look nice!

Today, I have two missing hubcaps, several conspicuous scratches/marks, four dirty floormats, a faded UVA sticker, and an overall dull dingy matte finish.  And you know what... it's still doesn't run any better! Since highschool, I have learned to do a couple of things with my car... change the oil, change a tire, change the disc brakes (yes that's a big accomplishment for me), replace a broken window (the fixed triangle window on the back that is), change headlight bulbs and fill the gas tank (ok, so I've known the last one for awhile). What can I say... I'm a city boy... there was an auto shop on just about every corner....

As I get older I'm finding that the appearence of the car matters little to me.  Rather, my greatest concern is the car's ability to function and perform in what it was designed to do, reach it's destination.

So the point: With your life, what matters most? Your hubcaps, or your engine?  Is what matters most to you the clothes you wear, the appearence you have? None of that makes you able to do what you're supposed to do better (that is worship your Creator).  Or is your engine the most important thing?  Does the condition of your heart and soul take precedence over what brand of designer clothes you have on this week?  God cares for your soul, that's why He gave us Jesus Christ - the sacrifice for our sins for the eternal restoration and regeneration for our weary broken down engines so that we can reach our eternal destination.  Hubcaps fall off and the car can still run, but with a broken engine any car is undone.