Lesson In A Parking Lot

I was leaving the parking lot.
I was at the traffic light, which would get me on the main road.
I was turning right.
A car was coming up next to me, turning left out of the parking lot.

The car made me smile.
It was a bright, yellow Volkswagen Beetle.
There were daisy decals all over the car.
There was writing, in a 60s style font, on the side door.

I couldn’t see the driver from my vantage point.
I couldn’t even read the writing on the door until the car pulled up along side of me.
I imagined all sorts of things the writing could have said.
I expected to read some 60s words like, groovy or far out.

The car pulled up next to to me.
The driver was a young woman.
I read the words in the 60s font clearly.
God is good all the time. All the time God is good.

It was not what I expected.
I was so sure.
I was so wrong.
I smiled all the way home.

As I drove, I thought of Jane Austin’s novel, Pride and Prejudice.
I thought of the preconceived ideas that Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy had of each other.
I thought of the pride, that didn’t allow them to think otherwise, once they went down that road.
I thought of the yellow Beetle, the daisy decals, and the 60s font.

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:1-10)

How often do we judge based on appearances?
How often do we assume we know all about a person?
God gives the gift of discernment, which is helpful in assessing people and situations.
Sometimes, we are pleasantly surprised.

We are not to show favoritism.
We are not to treat one person better than another just because of superficial things.
We often see the character of someone, especially when they are tested.
Sometimes our initial impressions are correct.

Imagine all of these thoughts because of a yellow Volkswagen Beetle.
A car, with decals and words in 60s font, brought Jane Austin and the book of James to mind.
God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
What a lesson in the parking lot.

2 responses to “Lesson In A Parking Lot”

1. I just love this and your spirit!

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   • Thank you, Susan! God is always teaching us something, often in the little things!
     Gina

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