Not long ago my bride and I visited a coffee shop for their 10 year anniversary of being in business. She knows the owner and we always have a very pleasant visit while we enjoy a fancy coffee.
On the day of their celebration we decided to stop in and celebrate with them. Since we were headed to different destinations, she drove her 2020 Outback and I drove my old 2009 Honda Civic. We parked them next to each other and headed into the coffee shop.
We had a pleasant time visiting with each other and the owner. My bride was headed to her ladies bible class and I was headed to a doctors appointment. As we reached our cars, which were parked side by side, I found a sticky note with the message "God Loves you" stuck to the drivers side window. I sort of chuckled about it, looked around to see if any of the other cars in the parking lot had similar notes attached. None did. My car was by the far the least desirable car on the lot. I walked around my car to my bride's car still amused by the note to show her and see if she had received a similar note. When she saw the note, I asked her if she had gotten one on her car and she replied sardonically, "No, I know God loves me. Look at my car!" It was such a clever and outrageous response that I stood there laughing while she got into her car. Several times since I have laughed about this exchange. She so perfectly and sarcastically nailed the current American Christian mindset that I have not thought of a better analogy since.
I am tempted to expound philosophically about this incident, but her response was so perfect and so timely I will simply have to let it stand as is.
But I will say this. If you have an older, beat up car with parts falling off and paint long gone, relax God Loves You, too.
Godspeed to all you rust bucket owners, you are not forgotten.
