Ruby has an(other) adventure

Firstly, my car has had some issues. I love Ruby, but she's put me through the ringer and vice versa. It hasn't been the easiest relationship.

Now, a story from the weekend. I've lived in Austin for almost 6 years now. The one thing that consistently frustrates me the most about this city (that I otherwise adore) is parking. There is a serious lack of available parking pretty much wherever you go, especially downtown, and there are lots of rules and no parking zones. Do you see where I'm going with this?

So this weekend I was enjoying an appreciation lunch for the volunteers in our children's ministry at Stone. I'd only been at the restaurant 15 or 20 minutes and was about the start eating when they made an announcement that the parking lot across the street was towing any cars that were parked there. Guess who parked there? I honestly didn't see the tow signs, and I figured on a Saturday afternoon when the lot was pretty empty, I'd be okay. You know what is a totally not awesome feeling? Walking out to your car and it being gone. Yes, I was the one car that had already been towed. I almost got upset (with myself), but thankfully I stayed calm. I really wanted to enjoy my lunch and fellowship time, so I went back inside and did just that. I'm so grateful I was with friends, because I couldn't dwell on it.

Once lunch was over, my sweet friend Ritz drove me home to get proof of ownership and we journeyed to rescue my precious Ruby from the big house. I was anxious about this, because I was afraid that something would happen and I wouldn't be able to get my car. God showed grace in making it pretty easy, although costly, and we busted Ruby out. I hope she wasn't too traumatized by the couple hours she spent with some cars with rougher pasts. If you know what I mean. 

If you look real close, you can see Ruby just hanging out in the impound lot.

So helpful.

I might have been praying at this point. 

This is what I learned from this experience. I deserved for my car to be towed. Even though I didn't see the signs, they were there, and they clearly indicated that the penalty for parking there. I can't be upset that the owners of that property followed through on the consequences that had been set. But God isn't like us. Even though I deserve the set penalty for my sin (which would be eternal separation from Him), I don't receive it. Because of Jesus, I receive mercy rather than the consequences. So how can I be upset about the $192 I paid to get my car out of the impound lot when it served as a reminder of the riches I've received in Christ? So once again, God used car trouble to humble me, teach me about community, and remind me how much He has done so that I could know Him. He's good like that.