prince of peace

There was technically no Thanksgiving Party on Saturday. As I woke up and excitedly made it to Odette’s parking space, she wasn’t there. I checked to my right and to my left and just looked around me. Blank. The lady had by this time been kindly impounded for 10 hours on the order of the too efficient Swiss police. Crushed like run-over hedge hog, she wearily stood in the neat line with other burnt and crushed cars when I picked her up. It was difficult to rescue her. I had to pay a great price for her to be set free. What a livid reminder of the way I was and was set free. You read me?

We drove off, I was still smiling: the lady gives me joy at the wheel, even in her sorry state. The squashed trunk flew open after less than10 meters. I taped it down and put my hazard lights on. Only ones working: front left and back right. Seems almost eerie that the drunkard chose my car to crush as opposed to the hundreds parked in the neighborhood. Annoying that my insurance does not cover one cent in damage. Needless to point out, it has been a pretty difficult start here on most levels. Could be easy to get caught in a pity party, which I do not want to take part in.

Saturday afternoon, I ended up having my own Thanksgiving party. I thanked God that I am alive, untouched, because just as fast as a car can be crushed, my life can be snatched away. A big thanks for Markus, who left his friends finish the move. He bailed me out this Saturday, dealt with my empty self and drove me around this weekend getting stuff done you can only do with a car. (Du bist so ein Schatz!)

…
Gelobt sei Gott, der mein Gebet nicht verwirft, noch Seine Güte von mir wendet.
Gelobt sei Gott, der mein Gebet nicht verwirft, weil Seine Liebe niemals endet!
…

This weekend I was forced to realize what a grace it has been to have a car. How thankful I am, that I could run around getting all my papers done over lunch-time the past weeks. Just in time. And now, as in all these things, I just have to trust God for the finances for another vehicle. It is really as simple as that. Another challenging phase. I have obviously not learnt patience yet. I am a fighter in a lively battle at the moment!

Today, my colleagues were very compassionate. One said: “what can we do to support you better at this time?” (wow) and one offered to call some used car dealer. I was given permission to use a private company parking space underneath the building for Odette whilst I await the police report preceding her demolition. The main parking tower authorities is unlikely to tolerate a sorry looking Odette for too long. If you hadn’t noticed by now, I have really appreciated the service Odette has given me over the months!

Whilst I look around for alternatives to Odette, I continue to invest body and mind into work, which is just consuming. Everything but my soul, which needs to maintain refreshed elsewhere – I at last understand Rich Mullins words in his one song*.

Tonight at work, I realized how I am developing very different abilities to the ones I have been able to acquire this far. Solely thorough thinking is accepted, the one that plans for every solution, every mishap possible. Not one millimeter less than thorough work is tolerated. High expectations are difficult to live up to, but essential lessons to learn in many areas.

Despite the temporary inconveniences, I am at peace and I am thankful for the events of last week. I am growing. Jeder, der dankt, bekommt ein frohes Herz.

* Hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shakin' like a leaf. You have been King of my Glory, why don’t you be my Prince of Peace?