The Car Hunt

I have spent no small amount of our Christmas break staring at my computer. I wasn't writing blogs or studying for a message. I was on the hunt for my firstborn's first car. The combination of strong opinions in our home, a high value in safety and reliability, and not to mention a limited budget all make the adventure somewhat like a 2000 piece puzzle.The first vehicle that Mark set his eyes on was a black Ford F150. Tinted windows and supposedly impressive rims (to a 16 year old) made this a truck Mark was certain was destined to be his. The deal that was too good to be true turned out to be too good to be true. Thankfully, a friend who has purchased multiple vehicles online gave us a heads up of some things to look for so we weren’t taken in a scam.A few hundred searches later, Mark found himself excited over a much more recent 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. It was going to require some negotiating and a trip to Texas, but we were willing if everything checked out. The dealership where it was being sold promised it had been through a very thorough inspection and all repairs needed had already been made. We sent the car to a neighboring mechanic for inspection, thinking I would be leaving for Dallas the next day.How sad (but grateful) we were when the inspection revealed a recommended $4000 worth of work to put the vehicle in good condition. From the untrained eye, the vehicle looked like one that even I would be grateful to drive, let alone my 16 year old! Unfortunately, the timing chain needed to be replaced and, according to the mechanics’ that we know and trust, this is a recipe for multiple expensive problems.We are still on the hunt. As we discussed the results of this last inspection, it occurred to me how much picking a car is similar to picking a spouse.It is so tempting to buy a car that looks good. It is equally tempting to lower your standards the longer you search. Given our budget, we are going to have to compromise somewhere. It would be great to have a new vehicle, or a vehicle with one owner and no accidents. They are hard to fine. But is it worth the wait? Mark wants freedom so badly. Does it really matter if there aren't maintenance records? Does it really matter if it was in an accident?Yes, it matters.What makes a car a good purchase is that the basic things have been done well and consistently from the beginning. It’s nothing fancy or out of the ordinary that’s needed; it’s the commitment to consistently do the small things right that makes a car last. Doing the small things each day is also what make a relationship last. It’s the man or woman who has been faithful in the small things who will be faithful and trustworthy over the long haul.Whether you’ve been married for decades or you are currently looking for Mr. Right, you must ask yourself, “Am I being faithful in the small things?”Day by day, our character is either built or broken. I challenge you to ask someone close to you, “What is one area where I need to be more faithful?” Where do you cut corners thinking it will never catch up? For 2015, where do you need to commit to making a small change that will make all of your relationships sweeter with time? twitter | facebook

Photo: glasseyes view, Creative Commons