Clunkers for People

I spent a good part of last week helping my oldest daughter shop for a "new car."
The dream car she was seeking: a new white Camry with a sunroof...like her old '96.
This year she was tenured at a school downstate. She definitely needs a reliable car to start her fourth year of teaching.
Over the years, we would pray that she would make it through each season without getting stranded... This old '96 Camry used to be mine. Back in 2001, when our daughter opted to commute to the university, we offered her the old car (she saved at least $35,000 by commuting! It was $7k a year to live on campus! Although she put A LOT of miles on this old car, it carried her safely for eight years !

Now it has over 180k and it's still a trooper! It's no clunker to me!

I'm happy to have it back and let it retire in my care. No more downstate traffic or weaving around double tractor-trailers on the thruway.
At one of our area's larger dealerships, we couldn't believe our eyes when we saw "the clunkers" in person. This is just ONE ROW of clunkers.

Their entire side parking lot was filled with them. I have to tell you there were only a few that I'd label "a clunker." The rest could be such a rescue to a family in need.

They still have lots of life in them! Don't you think !?!

...the story of a friend comes to mind...
Several years ago, a dear friend of ours lost his wife to an aneurysm which caused a cerebral hemorrhage. She left behind four girls...the youngest was to begin kindergarten. Can you imagine? The father, a friend Chris and I have known since college days, was devastated and unprepared for such a tragedy... and ended up in debt up to his eyeballs trying to raise his little girls. We all helped in what ways we could.
I'll never forget how he had to keep his clunker mini-van alive for the long haul. It needed to be his chariot of fire....
...and keep running for the Glory of God!
I know ... even today... he would be ecstatic to take one of these clunkers home as his beautiful angels are now all in college!

This man has a special place in God's heart. All of his daughters did beautiful work in school, received scholarships for college and are such lovely young women. Their mother would be so proud of them and absolutely amazed that her husband accomplished such a great labor of love.

I strive to be a good steward of the earth... but ...

I'm still sad that these cars must be destroyed and will not have a more noble finish... sent out on missions to help those without... and keep running for the Glory of God!

In the end, our daughter did not get the car she wanted, but instead found the car she needed.
She bought a used gray Honda Civic with only 20k miles! When she sat in the car to test drive it...a big smile enlivened her tired face... and she said, "This is the car for me."

Amen, and Humbly Grateful!