My truck’s a beater (better than an old limo). It’s a severely hail-damaged 4-cylinder with crank windows, manual locks, an aftermarket air-conditioner, and a ton of miles.
It may not last much longer. I’m a family man now so when the wheels fall off of this one the next truck is gonna be a people-mover. It’ll probably be a four-door with a legit second row (for car seats). That means a full-size. It’ll be newer and bigger, and I’m pretty sure they don’t even make full-size four-door pick-ups without power windows, locks, and a few other niceties.
It will be a significant upgrade.
I was thinking about that and got bummed out. Why would I feel that way? I have a serious lust for new stuff, and I don’t have a nostalgic bone in my body. When my truck is gone, I’ll never look back. So why was I sad about an upgrade?
When I figured it out I was really bummed.
A little soul searching revealed that I was bummed because I like having a beater! …that’s not true. There’s no reason to like having a beater. Here’s the truth: I like you knowing that I have a beater. I want you to think that I’m frugal, that I drive paid off vehicles, and that I don’t buy on impulse.
I don’t want you to think that I’m rich, and I don’t care if you think I’m poor…but I can’t stomach the idea of you thinking that I’m vain.
Isn’t that incredibly vain of me?
Dang wicked heart. Dang sneaky pride.
Leave a comment and tell me I’m not the only one!
After just spending the last three weeks truck shopping with my husband I can tell you this. You deserve it! He has been driving a beater since I met him. Several in fact. Because they’ve never lasted. We’ve also gone extended periods with only one vehicle to share. That is hard! He did this for me because I needed to have the reliable car. When we first started looking Ike wanted to be frugal but I thought, no! Transportation is so important. I don’t want to replace another vehicle next year. I don’t want to rescue him from the side of Pellissippi. I don’t want to feel stuck when I’m in a meeting and Maddie needs to go to the doctor but her daddy doesn’t even have room to take her in his own truck. You don’t need all the bells and whistles. You need space for your family and you need low miles. Don’t buy new, the right truck is out there for you too. And no one will find you vain for providing safe reliable transportation for the whole family.
thanks, Alyssa! I have to say, though, that I’ve had a lot of luck with my beater so far (knock on digital wood). I’ve gone well over 100k miles without a non-maintenance related expense. It’s a blessing! We’ll see how long it lasts!
ha! Funny how that works
even in the best of times—probably in every sermon you give there is still that less than 100% pure motives! keep doing the best through the spirit– cannot wait to be glorified! ps love that your most popular post is the pastoral iPad post…thats def. how I found you!
David, glad you found the site! You’re right…the more honest I’m willing to be with myself, the more I realize that I can scarcely do anything with 100% pure motives. My frustration is not always knowing my own motives: what % are they pure? I never know. God’s merciful, though!
this to me is the greatest picture of total depravity- not you necessarily
but our inability to do anything apart from the spirit. I’ve been having some great convos lately about the idea of evil and wickedness and how total depravity and romans 14:23 point me to say that anything that isn’t from faith is sin. man, that is a mouth full—for the non christian–nothing they do is from faith, even the love of a mother for her child. Hard to say her love is sin–but thats what the text seems to say. But the humility comes (thats why I loved your story!) when we check ourselves and ask if that action was completely rooted in faith? Man- for me, hard to say that 100% ever. Sorry for the essay dude, but thanks for encouraging my faith through this post-
-db
That tension you just expressed is real, and I appreciate you sharing it…I too feel like an idiot when trying to appear holy (but not too holy, lest I be perceived as prideful). An example of this in my life is the current decision on a career change that we are going through…it’s tough to serve God and give Him glory instead of seek the praise of mere men. Sigh….what’s a boy to do…
holy…but not too holy…that’s makes no sense, and perfect sense! I want be holy, and not seem smug about it. By the way, don’t let that tension keep you from telling people all about that career change. I’ll help: JOSH IS GOING INTO FULL-TIME MISSIONS AND YOU SHOULD SUPPORT HIM BECAUSE HE’S LEGIT! How was that?