Life lessons from under the hood of my car

I tried something new yesterday because I thought it’d be fun.

Actually, that’s not true at all. I love the idea of new experiences, but I’m a creature of comfort and rarely enjoy the new experience during the process. But I do enjoy the personal growth that comes as a result.

New experiences can be frightening and exciting all at the same time. The greater the potential, the greater the fear. 

But fear and excitement are actually quite similar.

I enjoy traveling, but I’m most comfortable when I’m in my own bed each night. And I like trying new things, but trying something for the first time is stressful. 

New experiences are vital for health. Our minds become dull without them.

Like any other muscle or organ, the brain atrophies without education. 

And so, we try new things for the sake of our mental health. We also try new things because, for whatever reason, they sound fun or enjoyable.

For several years, I had wanted to climb a mountain. For whatever reason, I thought it would be neat to stand on top of a snow-covered peak. 

I was given the opportunity to climb Mount Rainer. So, I seized the opportunity! 

And I’m glad I did, but the experience was terrifying (i.e. my pickaxe literally saved me from dropping into a bottomless crevasse).

I got sick after drinking the water from the stream on day one and had to blue bag it for the next two and a half days while being roped together with three other people I’d just met the day before (If you want to know what it means to "blue bag it", well, I'll let Google explain). I’m also terrified of heights and dreaded the summit. All I could think was, “How the heck do I get back down?”

I did get down. 

And I’ve since had many other new experiences. My most recent, like many others, was born out of necessity...a stubbornness.

I was on my way to the gym and had to run a quick errand for my wife before. I arrived at the store, parked, went in to make the purchase, and came back out to leave. Unfortunately, my car decided that it was as far as I’d go.

My battery died.

So, I jumped in and took it to the store I always buy my car batteries from because they install it for you. But not tonight. Apparently, four employees for the four of the customers they had weren’t enough to leave the front desk to install the battery I had purchased. 

So, I decided to take it upon myself to install the battery. I had YouTube and had been sure to text my brother: “Hey, can you get shocked or electrocuted from installing a car battery?” 

“No. It’s pretty simple.”

Good enough for me. After watching the YouTube video I had found, I was ready to go. I had my wrench in hand, hood propped, and my iPhone light propped on the windshield to provide enough light.

In these instances, my mind runs to worst, far-reaching possibility it can conjure: “Can a car battery explode? Probably not likely, but it’s December in Iowa and the air is dry...what if the nut falls off, hits a piece of metal, and creates a spark? What then? I have a wife and three small children. I can’t be this reckless!”

Let me give you a little context: when I say I’m not a car guy, I mean I am not a car guy. When asked the type of engine I usually guess only to be found out after the third subsequent answer doesn’t add up in the mind of the mechanic asking.

My dad was a car guy. He restored cars — if his car broke, he fixed it. If my car breaks, I call someone. 

So, if the saints in heaven are ever allowed to see what’s going on down here, I imagine there were some good laughs within the pearly gates. I imagined Jesus calling my dad over: “Hey Lorry, you gotta see this (Jesus points down at me struggling inside my garage)!” To which my dad immediately started cracking up.

Dropping the screw down inside the far-reaching crevices of the engine (or some part of the car’s motor...I told you, I’m not a car guy)...

Conclusion

For all you car guys and gals out there, I know this sounds a bit pathetic. But after successfully installing that battery, it didn’t matter what else happened that day — I had overcome Mount Everest in my garage!

So get out there and try something new. In spite of the fear don’t give up or avoid the experience. You’ll be proud of yourself on the other side.