“Just Lock Me In the Car Again”

Last week my son Sean was preaching at a church in Perry. He went to the church early and my wife, daughter in law, two grandchildren and I came later. We arrived at the church and were getting out of my daughter in law Paula’s car. She, my granddaughter Genna, my wife Terry and I got out but somehow my grandson Walker got locked inside.  I hollered to Paula that Walker was locked in the car and I couldn’t get the door open. She mashed the “open button” on her key set and Walker was able to get out.

When he exited the car Walker had his “gameboy” in his hands. Paula saw it and told him he could not take it into church with him. Looking totally forlorn he told her just to lock him in the car again.

Don’t you sometimes feel that way too? On those days when the lawn needs mowing, too many bills are due, the air conditioners on the blink; don’t you just want somebody to lock you in the car and leave you alone? I know I do. I could completely empathize with what Walker was saying.

Another example was the other night. I was driving back from Moultrie, Georgia where I had been for a booksigning. I came over a hill and there in front of me in the middle of the road was a retread, or at least a fragment of one that had obviously been a part of a truck tire. I hit that sucker going seventy miles an hour and it made a lot of noise.

I immediately began my God don’t let me down prayer. Just let me get home, I prayed, and sure enough I did. I said my thanks and went in the house and went to bed. My wife woke me the next morning with the announcement that something had leaked out from my car and was covering the driveway.

It was transmission fluid and it was everywhere. All I could think was that somebody could just lock me in the car and leave me alone and I would be happy. I wouldn’t get out and I wouldn’t let anyone get in. 

But life isn’t that way. I got back in my car, cranked it up and begin my next prayer which was God please get me to the garage. The garage is about ten blocks away and I honestly didn’t think the car would go one much less ten. But sure enough I made it all the way there.

When my friend Thomas, who works there, brought me back to my house in his car he looked at the driveway and said he couldn’t believe I made it home, much less to the garage. I told him that when I woke up ands saw the liquid everywhere I just wanted someone to lock me in my car and leave me alone. He said he knew what I meant as he had had days like that too.

Yes I guess we have all had days like that. But just remember you always have to get out of the car eventually. And when you do things generally work out alright. You may not be able to take your gameboy into church but most other things have a way of straightening themselves out.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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