Simple Faith: I crashed my RV
Coming out of the RV collision repair shop after visiting my recently crashed RV, I couldn’t help but chuckle as I reflected on the series of events that put me there.
If you’re a regular reader of this column, you know we recently purchased an RV — that’s Recreational Vehicle to those of you who haven’t experienced the glory of owning and operating a vehicle designed specifically for the purpose of recreation.
I always swore I’d never own an RV, but as you may know, after listening to friends describe with child-like excitement their venture into the world of camping ... well, I couldn’t resist the urge to try it myself.
When I sat down with Marilyn and described my newfound desire, she was caught completely off-guard — so much so it took her a couple of weeks to process my sudden turn of interests. But eventually, with only a slight amount of urging, she signed on to cruise with me on the USS RV.
We set out shopping for a “cute little camper ... nothing pretentious or showy.” But after wedging ourselves in and out of several such models and experiencing just how tiny those “shower/bath/toilet/vanity” bathrooms were, we realized: “If these two claustrophobes were gonna experience the thrill of RV-ing together, we were gonna need a real bathroom and a real shower!”
And so our shopping took us quickly from small-sized trailers to medium-sized trailers and finally, after weeks of prayer and deliberation, we settled on a large size trailer ... nothing elaborate, but much longer and heavier than we’d originally envisioned. All the while, I’m looking back over my shoulder at our rapidly shrinking short-bed economy pickup truck.
You already see it coming, right? And so did Jason, our son who, when brought into the conversation, immediately declared: “Dad, you’re gonna have to get a real pickup truck if you’re going to pull a camper!” It was about then I also noticed both he and his brother looking up and to the left, I assume, mentally calculating their shrinking inheritance.
This all took place in the early spring, and now, in the midst of Ohio’s glorious summer, we have very much enjoyed our baptism into camping. And we plan to continue to enjoy it as soon as the repair shop calls to say they’ve repaired the collision damage it encountered on our last outing. (*sigh*)
The story is short and simple — I absentmindedly turned short in a parking lot and drove the side of the trailer into the base of a large light pole. We were on our way home after an incredible tour of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Marilyn was as surprised by my rookie mistake as I was. You see, in years past, I had logged thousands of accident-free miles towing an equally long car-hauler during a 20-year stint in the hot rod business.
Nevertheless, here I was at the collision shop looking at thousands of dollars in body repairs. I was grateful to find a competent RV repair shop in town and further grateful that my insurance company has handled my claim as if they were filming their own TV commercial.
I called from the accident site and tentatively asked, “Am I covered?” I can’t tell you how relieved I was when their response was, “Yes! Is everyone OK? Don’t worry, we will take care of everything.” And they have!
I gotta tell you, I expected my reckless behavior to be met with much less grace.
Saint Luke reminds us how the Lord, in spite of our reckless behavior, continues to extend His Grace toward each of us. He writes in Acts 20:32, “I commend you to the care of God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you the blessings God has for all his people.”
Oh sure, I realize my insurance company is legally obligated to me, but I still very much appreciated their gracious attitude.
The grace Jesus Christ offers each one of us comes freely. He was under no legal obligation when He willingly gave Himself on the Cross on our behalf. Take a moment today and reflect on the incredible grace of God who freely offers to repair our broken lives.
Ron Grubb loves to tell life stories and apply God’s truth as he leads the Lancaster School of Ministry and pastors at Life Church, 4 miles north of Lancaster on Ohio 37. Ron welcomes your thoughts at ron@lifechurchohio.com.