Peace, Tranquility And A Flat Tire

What is bound to happen the evening before you leave on a 1,300 mile trip?  Exactly.  A flat tire.

Taylor and I came back home from getting haircuts (it’s always best to do a dangerous mission like that in pairs).  And as we pulled into the driveway, Nadia was smiling and pointing at the van.  I rolled down the window and said, “What?  What are you pointing at?”

She said, “The van has a flat tire.”

I heaved a sigh and thought, “We’ve already had the unexpected storm hit before we left on the trip.”  The storm happened last evening and it wreaked a little havoc around our house and yard.  “Now, I have to deal with getting a tire changed and fixed tonight, as well?  What other unexpected surprises are going to happen?”

Just then a clown came from behind a bush and hit me in the face with a pie.

…Well, I have to admit that was definitely unexpected.

Taylor helped me take off the flat tire and put the small, temporary spare tire on the rim.  And we took the flat tire to a place to get it fixed.

They are going to have it ready for us tomorrow morning.

(By the way, for those of you who are keeping score at home, this makes two days in a row, now, that I’ve used tools.  Yesterday, it was a hammer and nails.  This morning it was some more hammer and nail activity, mending fences—which can be verified by Larry Houtchens, Sr., he was a first-hand witness.  And then this evening it was a lug nut wrench, a can of WD-40, and an office stapler.  I’m feeling incredibly manly.  ….A stapler is a tool, right?)

This kind of flat tire occurrence is a hassle and a bother but as I was changing the tire—in my driveway—I thought, “I’d rather be doing this here than on the side of an interstate highway somewhere.”  That’s the positive aspect of all this. 

Do you see what’s going on?  In my mind, I’ve taken a very laid back, philosophical approach to the matter, “Oh well, these things happen.” I thought, “Relax.  It’s okay.  It’s not a big deal.  The circumstances could have been much worse.”

Do you notice how calm I am?  Do you notice how the little things don’t upset me?  This kind of poise and grace comes with deep maturity and many years of walking closely with Christ.  I just keep rolling with a spring in my step and smile on my face.  I’m a picture of peace and tranquility.

Oh, but I did punch the clown.