Crossing Wires

Last week, I had a major fiasco with the car – still recovering from the trauma.  The “check engine light” came on just as I got to dance class.  Before heading home, I checked with the auto repair shop and my husband, determined it was okay to drive, and cautiously opted for local roads versus the highway.  All seems good, right?  Being careful, thinking first, etc…

Then, before taking the car in to be checked later that same afternoon, I brilliantly decided to run a few errands further from home than usual.  This is when common sense flew out the window, never to return.  On the way, I made a wrong turn – the first of many, and I heard a faint voice telling me not to go to the store, “don’t waste your time.”  But, I wanted to go anyway and proceeded with my plans.  The entire time I ran errands, these voices kept telling me not to do what I was doing (but the reasoning was not clear, and frankly, made little sense) and I kept making wrong turns!  Come to think of it, I made several wrong turns the day before, but attributed those signals to some other issue.  “Something’s wrong, something’s wrong!” my Guides were saying.  

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Why did you keep going?  Why aren’t you listening?” Well, I thought I was listening and hearing correctly, I just didn't get it.

Finally, I’m in the car line to pick my daughter up from school.  I’m putting something in the trunk and a friend pulls up behind me.  I walk over to say hello and end up chit chatting for 5-10 minutes with the car still running. All of a sudden, clouds of smoke start billowing from the hood of the car!  Ends up being steam that stopped, so I thought it was okay to drive.  But, when the pedal and gearshift began to feel hot, I started to worry that the car might catch on fire.  

This is where you’re wondering, “Why is she still driving?!”  Truthfully - I have no idea!  By some small miracle, we stalled out at a couple intersections but made it home safely – car died as soon as we reached the driveway.   

Despite my failing to check the temperature gauge or use any amount of common sense, my Guides never stopped trying to help.  Later, I realized all those wrong turns were their attempt to get me to “pull over” or pause what I was doing and figure out what was wrong.

During next day’s meditation, a new Guide named Charles (some sort of practical guide - mechanic comes to mind), appeared.  He said the next time something like this happens, take a moment, a time-out, to ask what is wrong. He said that guidance will come not only for mental and emotional matters, but also practical.  He also said that if the warnings keep coming, then my initial interpretations are incorrect. 

As I anxiously waited all weekend for the verdict on my car (possibility the engine was trashed), a friend asked why weren’t my Guides more clear?  Why not, “You’re car’s overheating – hot, hot!”  I could hear that as well as any of the other messages I received.  Well, perhaps that would have been too easy.

Although indicators suggest a grand life plan is in place, I don't think we are simply puppets playing out a script.  We each have our own lives to lead and our own choices to make.  No one is going to spoon-feed us.  Ultimately, we make our own decisions.  Ultimately, we have to find our way.  If we can hear, more power to us.  If we follow what we hear, even better.  If we learn and grow along the way? That’s what it’s all about.

Luckily, the radiator was all that needed to be replaced.  I’ve never been so happy to have my car back! Both of us a little bruised, but still intact.