About a month ago, our vehicle fell apart. It needed some repairs and was scheduled to be fixed. Then, on April 28th, hubby was on his way to pick me up from work when the exhaust fell off. He pulled over a block from my workplace and texted me, explaining what had happened. I walked to him, and we assessed the situation. The exhaust line had let loose and was now dragging on the ground. We decided to drive it slowly to the shop where his dad/our mechanic would assess the situation. As we are driving, I'm sitting in the passenger seat, looking at the back wheel via my side mirror. The tire didn't look straight, but I thought maybe I was seeing things. So I dismissed it. Turns out I was seeing things. The control arm for the back right tire broke off, taking the exhaust with it.
We quickly realized that the vehicle was not going to be leaving the shop any time soon. Hubby was handed a set of keys for one of the vehicles that the shop ownes, in efforts to keep us on the road for a few days. We enjoyed that rental for the rest of that week. Hubby handed the keys back over on the following Monday. Holy Spirit directed hubby to purchase a bike so that he could commute to work.
Before our vehicle was even scheduled to get fixed, we had been praying for a new vehicle, and God told us that one was on its way. No idea when or how, but it was coming. In faith, we are claiming that vehicle.
This whole experience has been humbling and has taught us a lot. It has also been freeing. It's been freeing in a sense because unless we get on our bikes or walk, which we can do, we can't really go anywhere. Allowing us to just relax at home after work and on the weekends. After supper on the first Friday after the vehicle fell apart, before taking Blessing for her walk, hubby and I were sitting on the couch talking about how we couldn't go anywhere that weekend and how it would be relaxing because we would be 'stuck' at home and would have no obligations or expectations. Not that we had any in the first place that weekend. Hubby suggests that I am enjoying it that much more because I'm a homebug and enjoy being at home to sew. Which is true. That being said, I've been hangout out in the land of overtime at work for a while, so once I bike to and from work and do the extra hours, all I want to do is plop on the couch.
It has been humbling because we have to rely on someone else to help us with groceries and errands, of which a friend/coworker has lovingly stepped up and offered to help in whatever ways she can. Thank you, Tara. It has given us a new perspective and shown us what it is like for those who don't have a car. Regardless of reason. I think part of how it has humbled me is that I almost feel embarrassed that we don’t have a vehicle, and yet, on the other hand, I’m not really minding it at all.
This experience has also taken away our desire for takeout. Now, that being said, we don’t eat a lot of takeout anyway, but on the days when we want something different, or I am too tired to cook, we will hop into the car and go through the drive thru because it is convenient. Well, it’s no longer convenient. Because it’s not a 15-20 min bike ride each way, and if you are bringing it home, it's likely going to be cold when you get it home. So, it's no longer convenient. Yes, we could have it delivered, but that’s expensive, and we don’t want to pay a delivery fee.
Our church is a 40 min drive away, so we simply watch online. Which we do from time to time when we can't attend in person for whatever reason. For a long time, I have not found Sundays to be restful because at 9am we leave for church and don't get home until 1 or 2pm. Our church is worth the drive, though. Once we get home, I take Blessing for her walk, and a little while after getting home from that, it's time to make supper. This Sunday, we slept in til 7, which I often do on a Sunday. Giving me plenty of time to get ready for church. I made breakfast and got ready for the day. The morning was relaxing and slow until it was time to sit down and watch church online. Powerful message. Part of our Sunday routine is getting lunch out on our way home. That first Sunday, we ordered pizza and had it delivered. Since then, we have simply been making lunch at home and saving our budget for other things. Without driving to Sarnia and back, Sundays are now restful for me, and I am so enjoying it. Yes, we look forward to owning a vehicle again and being able to attend in person, but for now, I am enjoying this season. We also acknowledge the importance of corporate worship and being with your church family in person. But again, we are thankful that we can watch online and thankful for this slower season.
We are also enjoying not paying the current gas prices. We did have to buy hubby a bike so he could commute to work. So you could say that instead of paying gas money , we moved some of that budget over for a bike for him. But that will be paid off soon, and we will officially be saving our gas money instead.
When the vehicle broke down, I didn't have any plans on sharing any of this with any friends, family or writing about our situation. We didn't feel the need or want to share about it. We were simply just dealing with it and walking with God through it. It was a week and a half before I told my friend/coworker about it when it came up in conversation, and she then offered to help with groceries. But with it being such an interesting season with lessons I did not expect, I wanted to share all this with you.
For hubby, it hurt his pride a little because he has always had a vehicle, and now he doesn't. It's also about freedom and lack thereof for him. He misses the convenience of owning a vehicle and the ability to simply get in the car and go for a drive. Whether that be 30 min down the road or a day trip. That being said, we are choosing to be grateful for all that God has given us. We have all that we need.
It has now been 4 weeks since our vehicle broke, and 3 weeks since we have had a vehicle. At first, every time I took Blessing out for a bathroom break, I was surprised not to see our vehicle. It took about a week to stop looking for it.
I thought that God would have brought us a vehicle by now. Heck, I figured it would have been within the first week. This afternoon, I was thinking about and comparing this season with our last vehicle less season a year and a half ago, when hubby got into a car accident, and the car ended up being totalled. We were only without a vehicle for a week that time, but it was a stressful week for us. It was also winter, which I suspect played a role in it because it is easier to get around on foot and bike without ice and snow. I also believe it has been “easier” this round because of how far we have come in our faith and relationships with God as individuals and as a couple, and that we have matured. Of which I thank God for the growth I am seeing in hubby and me.
That being said, any day now, please Lord ;)
Well, I’m not sure what the takeaway is for you, friend. But it has been an interesting experience for us. Maybe the lesson is to be thankful for all God gives and takes away.
God Bless
~Hannah
Beauty from Ashes
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