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Pragmatist
Pragmatist

Rabbinical teachings
Mon Dec 08 2003

Our rabbis teach that when things aren't going well, we're supposed to search and try to find out what Divine lesson we're supposed to learn from our travails.

Well, I need a little help here.

The flat tire was a big surprise. As I wrote previously, I had been driving all around the county, but when it came time to pick up my granddaughter, there was the car sitting on a flat tire. OK, my very kind neighbor put the spare on for me.

Tried a couple places today (Sunday) to see if the regular tire could be fixed, but they were closed, so I decided tomorrow will do.

So....I'm taking granddaughter home this afternoon, and while waiting at a red light I see what looks like white smoke coming from under the hood. So, as soon as the light turns, I pull into the first parking lot I come to. Yep. There's white smoke coming from the radiator, and guess what! There's evidence of leakage that has been going on for I don't know how long, but more than a day or two.

A very nice young man comes over and asks if I need help. So he took the radiator cap off, and there's plenty of coolant in the radiator in spite of the very obvious leak. Now what?

I called my daughter on my cell phone, but the line was busy, as in she's on the computer. So I dialed her cell phone. "What's up, Ma?" "Trouble" I explain. Big sigh!

Eventually she gets to the parking lot, transfers her child and belongings to her car, and then she agrees to follow me home just in case my car decides it's had enough. I turned on the heater and rolled down the window, expecting that to help prevent the radiator fluid from boiling. The temperature gauge stayed well within the normal range as long as the car was moving, but started up-up-up when sitting at a red light. But no more smoke.

I'm taking my car in to my favorite mechanic tomorrow and see if he can fix the radiator, or if I need a new one, bearing in mind that this car is 16 going on 17 years old. And maybe he can fix the tire, too.

But the day wasn't a total loss. It was breezy, mostly sunny, with the sun playing hide and seek with the clouds from time to time.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what Divine lesson I'm supposed to be learning from all this. Practically, the lesson is: there goes Christmas/Hanukkah!

Happy Holidays

9 Comments
  • From:
    Energy (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 08 2003
    If it gets hot when stopped, its often a sign that your fan is not functioning properly. Your mechanic will obviously know that already, so my advice is useless.
  • From:
    Calichef (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 08 2003
    Perhaps the lessons of the last month or so (flat tires, radiator troubles, Thanksgiving simplification, etc...) are to teach the lesson of holiday simplification.

    I am trying to gather the ingredients necessary to come to visit you for the first night of Chanukah and make tuna patties and latkes with a dessert of jelly donuts, of course! Will that help at all?

    Love,
    ~Cali
  • From:
    Yetzirah (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 08 2003
    I have the answer for you......


    Cars are the spawn of the devil.


    There, wasn't that easy?

    (Sorry....really I am)
    You know it's true..
    Y.
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 08 2003
    more car troubles!!!!!
    this has not been a successful weekend for you, has it chaya?
    oh well, the good thing is that you have loving family and friends to help you out when you're in a bind

    sez
  • From:
    Ozone (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 08 2003
    Not that car problems are ever convenient, they are especially unwanted at this time of the year. I hope that all goes well with your trip to the mechanic in the morning. I have to get an appointment to get mine inspected next week.
  • From:
    Becoming (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 08 2003
    I'm sorry to hear of your troubles!

    I apparently don't get the lesson either, because I am continually tried. *smile*

    Actually, for me, the lesson learned has been that I don't rely on God as much as I need to and that I feel I have to constantly arrange and control things. When I give up the control and give it over to God, seek his will and not mine, things seem to run smoothly. (As I said, I am continually forgetting then relearning this very basic lesson). I'm speaking only for me here, and how similar circumstances have affected me. It's the 'Let Go and Let God' thing that the anonymous programs teach. This does not mean that you stop taking action, simply that you seek His direction. I wish I were better at saying exactly what I meant to say. I feel I have not gotten across what my point is.

    Reminds me of a favorite saying of mine (not sure of the author of it):

    I know you believe you understand
    what you think I said,
    but I'm not sure you realize
    that would you heard
    is not what I meant!

    Wasn't it you that mentioned Abraham Twerski recently . . . I know I've read one of his books . . . and it seems to me it touches on this very subject. I shall have to research this. I can't remember if I read it when I was involved in Alateen or when I was a Psych Major for one year in college.

    Sorry for the babbling, it's 2:00 in the morning and I have no idea what I'm doing up at this hour. *smile*
  • From:
    Becoming (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 08 2003
    OH duhhhhh. I read the daily wisdom you sent me and thought Twerski had something to do with that, but have not been on the computer much since then except to post briefly and comment briefly. I don't check my email but every two or three days anymore. I guess that's why I lost my email friend. It used to be the computer was my only companion and my only outlet and I'd be checking my email once per hour every day. So, mental lapse on that, I hope you do not find me ungrateful as I will be looking at that site and gaining insight from it. *smile* I also used to be an insomniac . . .last night's 2:00 a.m. DD tour was an unusual thing where it used to be a nightly occurence. I suppose that is a healthy sign that I am sleeping so well through each night.
  • From:
    CovertOps (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Dec 09 2003
    Dear Chaya,
    I see aspects of the Divine in the kind neighbor and the helpful young man.
    Does that help?
    I hope so.
    What Divine lesson can I learn from my frequent feuds with my mother?
    The virtues of patience and forgiveness. And the healing power of friendship. I am grateful to the Divine for supportive and loving friends like you, Chaya.
    Hugs & Love,
    E.L.
  • From:
    TraumaMama (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Dec 10 2003
    I know all about car problems, it has been one thing after another for us. Our cars are all getting old and rack up a ton of mileage from living rural.