I want to share a testimony of the Lord’s hope. This testimony is not actually from life here on the race, this story is one from back home.
I’ll give you some context before I start. At the beginning of my sophomore year of college, the car my dad let me drive in high school became my financial responsibility. That car served me well for four-ish years. It was a manual, white, convertible, Toyota Celica.
I had a love/hate relationship with that car. I loved driving it with the top down, wind in my hair, blasting music with my friends as we drove to the beach. I loved how small and fast it was.
It was a great car, but it needed a lot of tender love and care. I can’t even remember how many repairs my dad has done on it. He probably fixed the back windows a dozen times. He replaced the clutch and the radiator, I believe. It took three tries for it to pass the smog check this year.
I put a lot miles on that car, especially the last year I drove it. Right before I launched on the world race, it was in pretty bad shape. It burned oil like no tomorrow, it would need to be filled with oil every time I filled it up with gas. It had a coolant leak, so it overheated frequently. I had to pull over on the freeway three times with white smoke coming out of the hood. Whenever it rained, water would collect in a pocket of the soft-top roof and would slosh around in the back whenever I turned. There was one week where it rained three days in a row and I found an inch of water covering the floor of the car. The back up lights stopped working at some point, you had to have some guts and the Holy Spirit on your side while backing out of a parking spot. The left front tire had a loud clunk that was a challenge to diagnose. My brother decided to play with the cigarette lighter one day and branded the front right seat, thanks Michael. Lastly (I think), the hood was dented from a few careless fender benders —I promise I am a decent driver.
Needless to say, it still ran. My dad really did a lot work to keep that thing running. I was done with it by the time I left. We put the title back in my dad’s name and intended on selling it while I was away.
Just the other day while I was typing my last blog, my phone starting blowing up with texts from home. I read the texts and was moved by this story.
My dad put the car up online to sell and someone responded. A Hispanic man arrived at our house with his wife and five children. My dad was completely honest and told him all of the issues with the car, despite having fixed it up a lot. The man really appreciated my dad’s honesty and asked for his lowest price. My dad offered $1,000, even though the ad said $1,200. Some time passed and they got into a conversation. My dad found out he was Christian, had little to no money and was very involved in their church. He thanked my dad again for his honesty and said he could really only offer $800. He seemed a little ashamed at the low offer, but my dad said that was what he had come to as well and decided to shake on it. The man was overcome with gratitude and began to tear up as they shook hands.
My dad walked inside to get the keys and was overtaken by this man. He saw a tired father who was trying to raise five children, support his wife, and did not have very much. My dad told my mom that he actually just wants to give the car to him.
In front of his whole family, my dad handed the keys to the man and gave the car to him as a free gift. My mom texted me and said the man fell on his knees crying with gratitude. They found out the parents lead worship at a church in San Diego, but have been struggling. The man told my parents that he had been praying on the way to my house. The text from my dad said there were many tears and many hugs before they left with the car.
When I read this I was instantly moved by this story and also began to tear up. I pictured that man and his family in my driveway. There is something about a broken, strong, hardworking man that just grips my heart. Especially a father who has a family to protect and provide for.
I pictured that man standing in my driveway with his wife and kids behind him who are looking to him, relying on him, believing in him. I pictured the man receiving the keys from my dad and hopeful tears filling his eyes. I have never seen him, but I could just feel that this man’s heart was pure and noble.
This story is straight gospel.
We come to God in our brokenness and offer what we think is a mere “$800.” But he looks at us and says you are priceless to me, I love you, and offers us a free gift of grace.
This story got me thinking so many things.
It got me thinking about how thankful I am for my dad. I am so incredibly thankful that I have a dad who’s heart has never grown numb to the gospel. He probably cries every Sunday in church because the message of Jesus’s love still grips his heart. He lives in humble gratitude of God’s grace and it pours out of him in the way he sees and loves others. I am so thankful that I grew up watching someone demonstrate the gospel by offering himself (and his resources) as a living sacrifice everyday.
My dad lost his job when I was in middle school, so I know he relates to having a responsibility to provide for a large family but only having the Lord to rely on. I remember watching him search for jobs online with his Bible right next to his computer. There is something about the Lord meeting a father in need that really makes my heart sing.
It also got me thinking about how thankful I am for all of my supporters. Because I had the funds to come do the World Race, my car was left in San Diego needing to be sold. I hope all of you know, you are increasing God’s kingdom in more ways than you see. Your support brought the gospel to a man and his family back home in my driveway.
It got me thinking about the response after an undeserved gift. That man got on his knees and cried. That was response was less about receiving a car from my father and more about receiving love and hope from our heavenly Father. Those moments are beautiful.
It got me thinking about life here on the race. Even just meeting a tangible need can bring the gospel to someone’s life. God can use seriously anything to carry his message of grace and love.
It also got me thinking about the ripple effect of God’s kingdom. The gospel is so big and great because it does not stop. When one person encounters Jesus is spreads like fire. When you encounter him, you want to love like he does. You want others to encounter him. It’s unstoppable. Let’s go.
So many thoughts. I love the gospel. I love hope. I love Jesus and how he moves in and through EVERYTHING.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20
