Balt and I had a happy morning. I finished up the parent newsletter and went for a long walk. The morning started cool but warmed up quick. I enjoyed a noon time swim at the pool, long overdue. I made an appointment to get the oil changed again at the Nissan service center since I'd driven over 5,000 miles since my last oil change at Valvoline. I'd driven over 10,000 miles since visiting the service center. The car had been to the East coast over spring break and the West coast last month. I asked them to give the car a look over, explaining I was leaving for DC in the morning.
When the gal came in to talk to me, I figured there was something more in need than just an oil change but what I was told was a little overwelming. I was not allowed to take my car away without signing a release. They informed me the car was dangerous to drive and it was miraculous I drove it in at all. The bearings were so worn out and loose that they seemed to think any bump would cause the tires to come off. My choices were to sign the release or leave the car to get fixed. It would not be ready until Friday if I left it. If I took the car, I could not risk driving it to see Jessi, so it made no sense to take it. I left it there and took a taxi home. Nissan graciously paid for my taxi. They offered to get me a car rental but then realized all they had was a Leaf which would only travel 75 miles until it would need a charge-- problematic for a road trip at this point in history. They called Enterprise and were told that nothing was available. I called the Enterprise a block away from my house and was told I could get something tomorrow. I took it. I have no idea what I'll end up but for $200 I have unlimited miles and a car that won't kill me.
When my husband called to find out when I was leaving, I told him about the snafu. He seemed to think we were having bad luck. As I walked Balt this evening, I could not help but think of the providence involved in my situation. I will have to pay about $500 to get my Versa fixed and another $200 to rent a car, so I could see why it looks like such a bummer. I'm not sure why I made the last minute appointment to get the car checked. It was running fine, there were no noises, no bumps just a lot of miles. My gut told me to make sure it was safe to drive... or was there divine intervention?
I am no longer a Calvinist-- I am a strong advocate of human free will. According to Calvin, the idea that one might be able to make choices independently of what God determines is based on our limited understanding of God's perfection, or His predestination. As I walked Balt I pondered the idea of Providence. Theologians have debated this for centuries, I have no answers, but I am left feeling cared for by something quite beyond my understanding. While I have to pay a few extra hundred dollars to visit my daughter this weekend, I now know there had been a chance I might not have made it to see her. That would have been really bad luck.
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