I had an unusual experience with a mechanic.
Unfortunately, based on my previous experience, it is unusual.
My car inspection was expiring and as I knew I would be going away, tried to get it done. I needed very convenient, so I opted to someone walking distance from me. My car failed inspection. The mechanic explained why. I asked when could I return, as by then I only had a couple days before I left. He said to come the next day so he could diagnose it.
When I did, by the time he called me later in the day, needing to order the parts and do the work, I wasn’t going to be around. He gave me the quote and we agreed to get it done the morning after I returned.
While I’m usually wary about interactions like these, somehow, this one was calming. I was in a good mood and laughing even though I had failed the inspection and still had to pay for it. The older gentleman asked my name and I asked his, and we were on a first name basis. This no longer felt like just a transaction, but I felt seen.
When I returned and dropped my car off, it was on my usual Christian radio station. Later in the day after I’d been called that it was ready, I walked over. There was another guy there wearing a Jesus t shirt. We exchanged pleasantries. He said he knew that car had belonged to me the moment I walked in, and had even asked the other guy to confirm it.
Oh, I forgot to share that the bill that I was quoted before I left was a couple hundreds of dollars less because when they went in, it didn’t need all they had originally thought.
Can you see why it was an unusual experience?
Then, when I went to tip the guy wearing the Jesus t shirt, as he had done the work, he gratefully accepted, and then pronounced a blessing that God would return it a hundred fold.
My heart sang as I drove off, feeling safer in my car and not having paid as much as I originally thought – and the pronounced blessing was really nice too.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your blessings and for providing the people we need in our situations. Help us to do our work with joy, integrity and gratitude as we know that you’ve given us the blessings of work.
