Finally. It stopped raining. At last the sun was showing its bright rays after what seemed like weeks of rain. Because of this, Calvin and I were in especially good moods as we prepared to attend church. We left the apartment early and headed to the parking lot.
That’s when we saw it. At first it looked like someone had broken into our car. A mixture panic and worry flashed across Calvin's face as he ran towards our vehicle. The right mirror was completely torn off, and the passenger side door was smashed in and dented with deep gauges running along the side. After a quick inspection it was clear what had happened. Someone had foolishly tried to weave through the parking stall next to our car, as a shortcut to the parking lot exit. Our car looked like it had been in a major accident, without ever leaving the parking lot. We stood there in our church clothes, completely dumbfounded. This was not what a Sunday morning was supposed to be like.
Worry quickly turned to anger.
“How could someone do this to us?” Calvin said in disbelief.
“They didn’t even leave a note, or some way to contact the person who damaged our car!” I said out loud.
“What kind of parents would raise a human being to behave like this?” I seethed.
Although we were victims of an accident, we felt as if we had been personally attacked. We do not have a lot of money, and our car is the best possession we own. We had worked hard to save up enough money, and carefully spent hours scanning classified ads for a reliable car. To us, it didn’t matter that it was an older model or that the paint was fading. We were proud of it.
Luckily, we were able to drive our car to church, but we were not in the happy mood that we felt minutes before. We arrived late, slinked into a side pew, the incident still fresh in our minds.
Ironically, the opening hymn was “There is Sunshine in My Soul Today.” We mumbled through the verses, because clearly sunshine was not in our souls.
Minutes later the meeting turned toward the Sacrament. Sitting as the bread and water were passed, I took time to reflect on the morning event. Immediately, a wave of new thoughts poured over me. I realized, the Savoir knew what I was feeling. He was hated, mistreated, and ridiculed. He knew what it felt like to be wronged, but he didn’t teach a doctrine of avenging and retribution. Instead, he taught love, forgiveness, and compassion.
“They didn’t even leave a note, or some way to contact the person who damaged our car!” I said out loud.
“What kind of parents would raise a human being to behave like this?” I seethed.
Although we were victims of an accident, we felt as if we had been personally attacked. We do not have a lot of money, and our car is the best possession we own. We had worked hard to save up enough money, and carefully spent hours scanning classified ads for a reliable car. To us, it didn’t matter that it was an older model or that the paint was fading. We were proud of it.
Luckily, we were able to drive our car to church, but we were not in the happy mood that we felt minutes before. We arrived late, slinked into a side pew, the incident still fresh in our minds.
Ironically, the opening hymn was “There is Sunshine in My Soul Today.” We mumbled through the verses, because clearly sunshine was not in our souls.
Minutes later the meeting turned toward the Sacrament. Sitting as the bread and water were passed, I took time to reflect on the morning event. Immediately, a wave of new thoughts poured over me. I realized, the Savoir knew what I was feeling. He was hated, mistreated, and ridiculed. He knew what it felt like to be wronged, but he didn’t teach a doctrine of avenging and retribution. Instead, he taught love, forgiveness, and compassion.
My mind turned to the driver whom I had never met. I felt sorry for them. Maybe they were drunk. Maybe they had a hard life. Maybe, no one ever taught them right from wrong. I don't know why, but I tried to see the perpetrator in a different way. I tried to see the person as our Savior would. As I sat there pondering, I was surprised - the anger I had felt all morning was calmly replaced with a feeling of peace. It happened so suddenly I didn't expect it.
As I took the bread and water, I felt a new appreciation for my Savior: His Atonement, forgiveness, and love. Sometimes, healing from heartache doesn't happen quickly. Sometimes it takes a long time for anger to go away.
Still, the Savior is always there, waiting to help us.
I do not know who damaged our car, or what they were thinking. The deep dents in our car and the scratches remain. What I do know, is with the help of the Savior, everything broken can be made whole again.
Still, the Savior is always there, waiting to help us.
I do not know who damaged our car, or what they were thinking. The deep dents in our car and the scratches remain. What I do know, is with the help of the Savior, everything broken can be made whole again.
