The Moral of the Story

Cindy Trane Christeson

“I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I

give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or

afraid.” -- John 14:27

Earlier this month I looked at my car and realized it was dirty enough

that I risked having somebody draw “wash me” on the back window.

I drove to the car wash near Fashion Island, and was surprised that there

were only three other cars there. I started walking inside to pay and was

practically knocked over at the doorway by a man running outside at the

same moment. His face was flushed and he was yelling as he ran out the

door. He never did seem to notice me.

I was so shocked that I was speechless. I just stood there and watched

him. One of the attendants started driving a car into the wash and the

mad man ran after him, still yelling, and pounded on the trunk of the

car.

“Hey, hey, what are you doing?” he yelled. “That car isn’t next, mine

is.” His tirade continued, but I turned and walked over to the cashier.

The man came back inside following one of the attendants and kept up his

verbal barrage. Then he paced next to the window watching his car as it

was soaped and soaked, and finally went out the other door. Once he left,

the rest of us in the waiting room looked at each other in surprise.

I paid for my car and as the woman was giving me my change, she said,

“That guy is going to drop dead from a heart attack.” There were so few

cars there, that I could only imagine his car was less than a minute

behind the other one.

“Does that happen often?” I asked.

“No, not often,” she answered. “But it’s been one of those days for all

of us here. Why is everybody in such a hurry?”

“I’m sorry,” I answered back. “For what it’s worth, I’m happy to be

getting my car washed and I’m not in a hurry.”

“Well, that’s nice to hear,” she said with a smile.

I thanked her and walked outside to wait. The man was out there standing

next to his car as it was being dried. He was practically breathing down

their backs, and he pointed out several places he wanted them to dry

again. I couldn’t tell if he gave the attendant a tip when he left, but I

could tell he exceeded the speed limit as he did. I felt sorry for the

people that man would encounter next.

I also felt sorry for the man. I sensed that his heart was in need of a

cleansing, just like my car. I sensed that he must have been filled with

so much inner turmoil that he became outwardly explosive. I said a brief

prayer that God would send someone to the man to tell him about the inner

peace that God could give him.

I know I’ll be back for other car washes. I also know that when God

washes our hearts, it lasts a whole lot longer. And you can quote me on

that. CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She can be reached via e-mail at

cindy@onthegrow.com or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505, Newport

Beach 92658.