By Joseph J. Mazzella

The frame of my 23 year old car had finally become so rusted that it was unsafe. Sadly, I decided it was time to trade it in for a less old one. I found myself then at a local used car lot looking at a 12 year old sedan. There was no way I could afford a new car, but this one seemed in fine shape. I made the deal and drove it home.

It wasn’t long, however, before I noticed a squealing when I turned the steering when too tightly. I made an appointment at a local garage and drove there on a bright spring day. While I was driving I unfortunately fell back into old habits of fear, fret, and worry. The heat of the day made me turn on the air conditioner but no cold air came out of it. This only make me worry more. I wondered if I had made a big mistake buying this car.

When I arrived at the garage the mechanics took the car in while I sat in the waiting room. The warmth and beauty of the day, though, was too good to ignore. I walked outside and felt the refreshing breeze on my face. It had been a late spring after a long winter and the 70 degree day felt like a blessing from above. I strolled contentedly around the parked cars and noticed a small patch of dandelions growing out of a crack in the concrete. As I looked down at them a single white butterfly floated down and landed on them. Butterflies had for years held a special place in my heart. They remind me always of my late mother and her love for me. I smiled when I saw this one and felt in my heart a peace and joy that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I realized then that while mechanics were performing  a few minor repairs on my car, God was performing a few minor repairs on my soul.

Life is too short to allow fear, fret, and worry to rule our days. God put us here to love each other and God reminds us of this in countless ways every day. My “new” car is running fine now and I am doing my best to keep my soul doing the same. May you always keep your own soul open to whatever minor repairs God sends your way.