In the past year I bought a Ford Focus. While this isn’t really news, it provided me a glimpse into the meaning of the Spiritual Disciplines. I know, nice segue.
When I bought the Focus, I had been driving for almost 34 years. This is 34 years with the gas cap on the left side of the car. I think there was a time when I was driving a Pontiac LeMans (I wish I had that car again) where the tank was behind the license plate, but that one didn’t matter what side of the pump I pulled up to.
With the Focus, each time I pulled up to the pump I would get out and realize I had pulled up to the wrong side. It was frustrating. I would get back in the car, drive around to the other side of the pump and get my gas. After about a week, I started to pull up to the correct side but I always had to think about it before I got there. If I didn’t, I would pull up on the more familiar and comfortable side and then get back in the car, drive around, and get my gas.
The other day I had just stopped for gas before I went home. When I got home, Ruth asked me if I would take her car and gas it up. No problem. When I got to the station, I went to pre-pay (after dark) and walked out to the pump. Only then did I realize that I had pulled up on the wrong side. Right then I knew I had overcome my habit. It was now natural for me to pull with the pump on my right instead of the left.
That is what the Spiritual Disciplines do. They help us to get our systems rewired for transformation. When we start with new Disciplines we often get frustrated with how difficult they are for us. We forget that we are working against what feels natural and normal for us. Even as the disciplines get more natural we often fail. Frustration can well up or we can quit. But if we are willing to stick with it, without a time frame for our expected results, it will happen.
One day the anger we worked so hard to surrender to the Holy Spirit is gone. Our lust, greed, envy, self-centeredness, and a host of other un-Christlike qualities are consumed by the Spirit and we are eventually free. Free to live in a way that is naturally like Jesus.
Life will still be a challenge. We will still have to make difficult decisions. But we will not be fighting against the Spirit but working with the Spirit instead.
Who knew a gas cap could remind me of the importance of the disciplines?
Skin Ministries 
I think my gas cap keeps moving…
Look for the arrow…
Isn’t it a great feeling to have a good laugh at ourselves? Almost as good as having a good laugh at Dave’s expense 😉
Okay, if the laugh is at my expense, lunch is on your’s. 🙂
oops…I’m soooo observant that I didn’t see Rabbi Glenn’s comment…guess that’s why I have trouble with signs.
Could be the working definition of “Ironic” for the day.
Dave…another part of spiritual maturity is looking for and recognizing signs. I had the same problem with gas caps until a good friend pointed out that each gas gauge has a small arrow pointing in the direction of the gas cap. Knowing this removed a lot of stress from my life…hope it helps you!
God bless you my friend
Jerry, I’ve told this story to a lot of people and not one of them knew this tidbit of information. Or, they just liked to see me suffer.
Ladies and Gentleman, he is correct. And the funny part is that I have looked at that gauge for thousands of miles and never noticed the arrow once.
A couple of lessons:
1. Discipleship is not a solitary adventure.
2. It is good to have friends that have enough time to read a car manual.
3. Without friends to help us along the way, there are things that we will be blind to even when they are right in front of our noses.
Thanks Rabbi Glenn for a great lesson!
On all cars manufactured after 2000 the gas gauge has a small arrow indicating which side of the car has the gas cap. Ah, the discipline of reading the manual…
or should I say, the Manual.