Slip Slidin' Away...

It's icy here. On Monday night we had ice then snow. Remember that fact.

Okay, so last night MaryBeth & I were having fun decorating the house-and bonding in the meantime- for a Christmas party for my "Bible Study" (I use this term lightly; other names could be: intimate allies, fellowship of the heart or as one husband calls us the wine study).
Anyway, MB & I decorating...having fun...bonding...,we realize we're missing some necessary items so I suggest we run to my shop & get them. We trek out to the garage and no van (I need the van because my shop keys are on the same key ring).
Oh darn...Brad took it. Brad used the van to take measurements at a friends house for their kitchen remodel.
No big deal...I'll just use the work truck and go trade vehicles.
MB & I pile into the dirty, old, big work truck and tool over to Cath's to switch cars. Their driveway has a steep grade and is notoriously slick...I know this, so I gunned it to get up. No problem. Then I drive up and start applying the breaks and they were completely useless. Both feet pushing the pedal completely to the floor and nothing... no response.
Because we were going slightly up hill, the truck started to slow down; but not fast enough. MaryBeth and I sat, watching in horror and what seemed like slow motion, as my friend's garage door loomed nearer. I had one hand on the steering wheel and one hand covering my mouth. I'm sure my eyes were as big as saucers. MB sat next to me saying mom, mom, Mom, MOm, MOM at regular intervals with increasing intensity. I, with my hand over my mouth kept repeating oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no.
We careened...okay, that's not the right word...skid? no, we had no traction to skid. slid? perhaps. glided? Yes, we glided, and gracefully, I might add, right into Nate & Cath's closed garage door eventually coming to a gentle stop.
I put the truck into reverse only to go careening (and this time it was careening) back down the driveway. I ended up jerking on the emergency break to bring the beast to a halt.
We looked at each other with astonished, perplexed, unbelieving faces. After briefly surveying the damage, we went inside. As I expected, Cath was gracious, kind and more worried about us than the door. Also, as expected, my husband was less than pleased with my latest predicament that he'd have to fix.
Many apologies and tears later I was thinking about the garage door incident and my reaction to it.
If you've read my last several posts, you'll know that the Lord's been working in my heart. He's convicted me of several things, and with His strength I've been amending my ways. But no matter how much we change, we're still human. We still say and do stupid, careless things. I knew the truck wasn't good on ice...I knew their driveway would be slick...I knew the immutable laws of physics...I knew that Brad would be home in just a few minutes. Why didn't I heed any of those things? Because I'm a human who can be very impatient at times and I wanted to go to the shop now.
It's kinda like life. We'll be driving along, happily bonding with those we love, not aware of the impending doom of icy driveways and immovable objects. Then, the stupid comment or harsh remark or careless act comes tumbling out and the breaks on our tongues don't work and we watch almost in slow motion as we hurt the ones we love. And all we can do is repeat in our minds oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!! But it's too late. The damage is done. The doors busted and some body's going to have to fix it. And sometimes, no amount of tears or apologies will help. Sometimes, only time and a continuing evidence that we really desire change are all that will make it okay.
Thank God...truly, Thank God He's the mender of our broken garage doors and doesn't revoke our licenses because of careless screw ups.