Integrity

When I was a teenager some of my friends got jobs in service stations around town. They told me how they were taught to fake problems (or cause them) on cars that were traveling through our area. On a hot summer trip with my dad over the mountains to Bakersfield the check engine light came on....we had runt the air conditioning going up a very steep grade...Dad pulled into the only gas station at the top of the Hill and a teenage mechanic diagnosed the problem and offered a solution: An expensive radiator flush. Neither of us are mechanics but I insisted that it was just a con game. We drove on down hill into Bakersfield where the mechanic there fixed a faulty light indicator switch for a couple bucks! I have been burned a couple times by crooked mechanics since then, but NEVER twice by the same mechanic. I have learned to STICK with a mechanic who has proven trust worthy. One such is Gary, down the road. I once saw him inject oil into a strut that was squeaking and refused to charge the man. The man brought the car to Gary because the dealership wanted $600 to replace the struts! Our church bus mechanic and I once got into a brief disagreement over the Church Van. It needed the front end aligned and I insisted it go to my mechanic...Gary. My friend insisted it go to HIS mechanic. We were stalemated unwilling to surrender....until we realized we were talking about the same guy, Gary. Gary once told me he could easily raise his rates but why should he, there was nothing he wanted that money could by anyway. I was really disappointed when Gary retired a year ago, but delighted to see that he was back this week. Evidently retirement was not as much fun as fixing cars for him. Gary proved his integrity to the point that I stopped in the shop this week to say Welcome Back GARY!...and I didn't even need any work done. (He did diagnose a problem for Jimmy...no charge of course! It is great knowing who you can really trust with a vehicle. That reminds me of how we can and should trust God. He proved his every intent towards us when he defeated and paid for sin on the cross. He is totally and completely trust worthy in every circumstance of life no matter how it looks at the moment. Surly we can trust this from Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.