My wife's Compass is at the shop, denying a simple diagnosis to the mechanics who are trying to determine the cause of the erratic temp gauge. As a result, we are sharing one vehicle, for the first time (for more than a couple days) in a long time. The 09 Escort we bought last spring has been a faithful ride to and from work, and for our (much more scarce of late) Saturday morning drives exploring the beauty and wonder (and bargains) of this Great State.
What a Friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear.
The other day, when my sweetie was backing in to our drive I noticed that the driver side brake light was out. Then when driving, it was the tell-tale quick turn signal when making a left that confirmed the issue. I know you can get pulled over for the gross infraction of no brake light, and so I added this to the Stuff I Need To Worry About list (which has been growing exponentially, it seems).
'Would I be able to access the bulb?', 'Would I have to have someone do this job, that used to be so simple on older cars?' 'In case I could in fact access the bulb, would the spare 1157s I have kept in my vehicles for years be the correct replacement?'
So as I began my morning errands, I started praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. I have found this morning ritual to be supernaturally comforting to me, if only to keep my mind on Jesus, and not on my worries. What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer.
I had temporarily put the light out of my mind, as I was on my way to our Kroger for a couple things, until I was turning left onto the Michigan Highway 36, off of Merrill Road. As I signaled, the hyper-fast click click click was my reminder, but I was thankful that it was Saturday, I was not on my way to work, and I had all the time I needed to check this out.
I parked in a good spot, and opened the back gate. Praise the LORD! The housing assembly was held in place by two cross screws, and my fishing tackle box sure enough contained the right driver for this job. In another box I keep in the vehicle was an emergency set of sockets and pliers, along with a package of two 1157 bulbs. Would they fit? I was amped at this point to find out.
Screws out, the housing compartment slid out like it just went in yestreday, and with a quick (lefty loosey) turn of the bulb, it also came out of the housing, black as a burnt hamburger bun. God be praised! again, it was a match for the replacements I had carried for hundreds of thousands of miles, just in case. :-) Quick pull on the old one, quick shove of the new one it, quick righty tighty turn of the bulb in the compartment, and the box slid right back into place. Two screws finished the deal, the entirety of which took all of four minutes. Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear. All because we don not carry, Everything to God in prayer.
Thank You, Father, for Your provision, and not just when I see it working out as I would like it to. Thank You, for knowing what's best for us, and for loving us so much.
