On Generosity

So, the car that has been my mode of transportation for 8 years is no longer. The insurance company totaled it and came to pick it up on Friday. It was my first car, one that took me through high school, community college, university, and my fist job. It endured West Seattle and the U-district (three break-ins, one purse, and one cd player later). It brought my baby home from the hospital and survived nearly a year in the wilds of Iowa, only to be bested by a daredevil deer.

The upside, however, is that we still had our comprehensive insurance, (even though my thrifty nature fought against it over the past few months), and we will be able to buy a different car. One that I did not abuse during my teen years, and hopefully one that does not need immediate repair work. It may even be able to carry five people comfortably.

But the real blessing here is not in the insurance, but in the generosity of our neighbors. It’s hard to understand the enormity of this without fully grasping where we are. Two weeks ago I would have said “I just don’t know how He is going to do it…” and yet these two weeks have passed and I see a light at the end of the tunnel. It warms my heart that even when times are rough, we are not alone.

So, to lay pride aside in order that you might understand the blessings we have received, here we go. It’s a bit lengthy so bear with me.

1. When my parents were visiting, we learned that there was a problem with the well. It would be either $60 or $700 to fix, more likely the latter.
2. Our propane tank was down to 10% full (in an old house like this, during the winter, that lasts about a month, depending on the usage. Filling up the tank is around $1200.
3. We smashed the car. We would need a new one…oh, immediately. The other car we have is a 1950’s truck without seatbelts, not exactly family friendly. No matter what, to get a safe car we were going to put around $1000 into it, on top of the money we get from insurance.
4. While Phil has work, and has been bringing projects in, he does not get paid for them until the owner delivers the items. This can be up to a month after the project is initially finished.

So, it felt a bit like the world was closing in on us. And you probably look at this list and say the same thing “Wow…I don’t see how this is going to work either, unless you just have this endless supply of money laying around!” And we don’t, so this scenario seemed very scary to us, as well. So, we prayed- for direction, for relief, something.

We kept these issues to ourselves for the most part- telling only a few family members, because, well, we have it all together, right? We finally decided to ask our small group for some prayer – that we couldn’t really see a way out of me going back to work, or making some big change in our lives.

Later that evening, someone left us an anonymous gift – it was small in comparison to our overall need, but it allowed us to breathe a bit. There was compassion and care and selflessness in the gift and it made me cry for the sacrifice I knew it was.

The next evening we had invited another couple over for dinner. When she walked in the door she carried with her a laundry basket of meat- all of this stuff she wouldn’t/ couldn’t use, she explained. “One way we can lighten the burden,” she said lightheartedly. Being farmers, they have this supply of meat, and shared their bounty with us. And again, we breathed in a bit deeper.

That Friday, our friend Mike called- he was back from a three week trip seeing his family, just checking in on the neighbors. I told him my deer story, and laughed with him about keeping his animals in their rightful fields, rather than running across the street, and all. He wished me luck on the insurance stuff, and said he would be by later to check in.

The next day he stopped by and asked Phil if he might be willing to “store a car” for him this winter- he had “too many, you know”. He explained that, since he would be with family out of state, he needed a place for his car. Would we be able to store it? And, of course, drive it around a bit to keep it warm. Phil saw through his attempts to save our pride and gladly accepted the loaner car.

He drove the car over two days later, vacuumed, cleaned, gas tank topped off. He brought with him a long list of notes about the car (like the door beeps when it’s open, whether or not the key is in), his insurance policy number as well as his roadside assist policy number (both of which we are covered on, he explained). He included his home, away, and cell number, as well as a duplicate copy of the information for me to keep in a separate location. There were jumper cables in the back, extra belts, an assortment of fuses and relays, flashlights and a tool box that would make dad proud. When I would have been happy with just any old thing to drive for the interim, he has gone all out to see that we are taken care of and safe. (He did ask that I avoid hitting deer with his car.)

We called the propane coop that same day and they came to fill up our tank. They offered to prorate our bill over the remainder of the period with no charge. In English, that means we only have to pay $185 per month rather than $1200 this month. It’s something they do all the time, they explained.

So, I can take stock today, two weeks later:

1. We had well guys come out and look at the well this past week. They said nothing was wrong mechanically, just some mineral buildup that kept the water from getting in so fast. The guys were extremely nice, and worked fast. We haven’t gotten the bill, but it will be less than we originally expected. **
2. We have a full tank of propane, and a manageable monthly bill.
3. We don’t have to worry about getting a new car for three months- so we can save up for the right car and pick it up at our leisure.
4. Our freezer is full of yummy meat.
5. Our hearts are warmed with the reminder that God can do ALL things, whether or not we see the outcome for ourselves!

I think of the times we have the opportunity in our own lives to be generous to someone in need, even if the need isn’t that great or isn’t even expressed. We certainly are not the neediest people I know, and it makes me uncomfortable taking things from people. But here is the truth- we each have something that can lighten the burden of someone else: a phone call for encouragement, a letter in the mail, a fresh baked pie. A car you aren’t using or all of this leftover produce from your garden. It seems so small to you when you have it, but so big to someone receiving it.

These people individually had no idea the scope or depth of our upcoming burdens- they only saw that there was a need they could help to meet. But in all, it worked out to be this beautiful harmony – and we were taken care of, each burden lifted. How neat is that? I hope that one day I can fine-tune my instincts as well as these people have – to learn to give of myself when I see even a small need, because I never know what else is going on. I want to be an instrument in someone’s life like they have been in mine!

**(On a side note, we had our first snow of the season the same day these guys came out to work on the well. It started as a little drizzle, and ended up being a regular winter storm. They were champs about it, and we served them a hot lunch as a small token for the resolve it took for them to keep going in the storm! The snow was absolutely beautiful, though. I have been really afraid of winter- secretly fearing the cold weather- but that snow reminded me of how beautiful winter is. The snow is so bright and reflective you can't help but be thankful for it! OK, as long as you aren't working in it.)