Totaled

About a month ago, a young woman came weaving up our street and sideswiped our daughter’s black Volkswagen Beetle. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but both cars were rendered undriveable. The police came, filled out a report, and we waited for the other insurance company to contact us.

No one called. The car just sat on the street outside our house for five days. Finally, an adjuster did call and said the company would tow it to the body shop of our choice. I thought to myself, “Good. Now we’re getting somewhere!” Boy, was I wrong!

The car sat at the body shop for a week until I stopped by to check on the progress of the repair. The owner told me they were still waiting on the insurance company to tell him something. After two weeks, the adjuster hadn’t even assessed the car. I couldn’t believe it.

So, I called the adjuster to see what the problem was. I got an answering machine, so I called the next day and left a message again, this time pleading for a return call. The voice message even promised a return call within two hours. He did not, and still has not returned my call. Next, I tried the company’s home office, spoke to a real live person, gave her my claim number, and explained that I needed my car repaired. She apologized for my inconvenience and gave the name and number of the person who was now handling my claim. I called and left him several messages, too. He also has yet to call me back.

Finally, after almost three weeks without my car, another adjuster called and told me that he had been to the body shop and had determined that my car was totaled. I was shocked.  The woman had bent the rim on the front driver’s side and scratched the paint a little, but for the most part, the car still looked pretty good. He shared a formula for totaling out automobiles and told me I could accept a check, minus the salvage difference, buy my car back and get it repaired. That is what I decided to do.

I got a bid from the body shop for the exact amount the insurance company promised and asked the adjuster to email me the proper forms as quickly as possible. He didn’t…at least not until the next week. Now in week five without that car, I’m STILL waiting for my check so I can authorize the body shop repairs.

I am thankful Rebekah is in Texas, and Robby doesn’t have his license yet. I don’t need the car right now, but I have learned my lesson. I should have been more intentional in the process.

I should have gotten the first adjuster to come to my house rather than tow it.
I should have called every day until I got him to look at the car.
I should have called the other person’s insurance company sooner.
Maybe if I had been more intentional, I’d have my car back.

Speaking of intentional…

This week marks WEEK ONE of our congregational emphasis called Intentional for 10. The point of this emphasis is that no one ever drifts into a spiritual habit. If you want something to become a habit, you have to work at it. Without intentionality, it will never become a regular part of your spiritual life.

The first spiritual habit we’re trying to help everyone establish is regular worship attendance. Have you ever been out of town for a weekend or just not able to come to worship for some reason? How many of us have then talked our friends only to have them say, “Wasn’t that a great service yesterday?” In these cases, we quickly realize we missed something that could have been very significant to our spiritual life.

Worship is one of those habits that truly changes us over time. There is a direct connection between spiritual formation and worship. Just think what could happen if everyone at Covenant Church made a commitment to be in worship for the next 10 weeks!

See you this weekend.
Branson