How are you supposed to respond when your car is on fire?

I've got a question to ask. How are you supposed to respond when your car's engine is on fire?

Never thought I would have to personally answer that question, but I had to yesterday. I had some work done at a local mechanic shop (name withheld because...accidents happen; it's not like he meant to destroy my car!).

Within ten minutes of leaving the garage, I had smoke billowing out of my engine. I was near the Christian Campus House in DeKalb, so I pulled over to see what was going on. Imagine my surprise when I popped the hood to discover a small fire blazing in the right side of the engine compartment.

For some reason, the first thought that entered my mind was just to blow it out. Thankfully, the absurdity of that image also entered my mind quickly. Instead, I did the next logical thing and called 911. Remain calm. Explain the situation. Give them my location. See you soon.

Then I called the mechanic.

I didn't shout. I didn't use any profanity. I feel I did pretty well explaining to him why he was about to buy me a new car. I'll call you later after the fire's out...

So how are you supposed to respond when your car is on fire?

I laughed!

What else can you do? Besides, it's just stuff. It's nothing that can't be easily replaced. Nobody was hurt. I didn't lose anything but the car in the fire. I gave the local college students some excitement in their dreary day. So I laughed.

CarMax...here I come!

One Final Exit

For over ten years I have been walking through the doors of a building located near the heart of Batavia, Illinois. I made my final exit from that building last night.

After spending a few hours cleaning up and loading items to be taken to our new church facility, I took one last look around, placed my key on the Welcome Center counter, and let the door close behind me. I wasn't sure what I would feel at that moment.

Sorrow? Somewhat...since this was a place I had called home for so long.

Joy? Definitely...since a major project was finally completed.

Excitement? Absolutely...since I could now focus on future ministry efforts in our new facility.

The emotion that I felt the most, though, was something else entirely. As I walked out of those doors for one final exit, I was mostly indifferent. Maybe a better word would be content.

I was content with the knowledge that we had accomplished the mission God had given us in that facility. I was content with the transition to a new facility. I was content with the fact that I would not return to this facility again with the same intent I previously had. I was content.

And I was hungry...