Monday, November 3, 2008

Vandalised or a lesson learned?

Halloween was really cool. All the kids from our Estate came Trick or Treating in their outfits and it was just adorable. We had cops, axe victims (with axe stuck in head), fairies, Buzz Lightyear and lots more. So, so cute.

However, somebody decided to take Halloween a bit too far. Our cars stay outside cos we have so much furniture and junk that we use the garages to store all the stuff. It`s ok though cos we live in a very safe estate that has 24 hour security and patrols.

On Saturday morning Hayley and I get ready to leave and as we head out the door, it immediately becomes clear that something is not right. There is sand all over my car. It`s a reasonably new estate with a lot of building going on, so there is building sand all over the place. This was however not just sand blown around by the wind. Well, on closer inspection it becomes clear that somebody had taken the time and effort to throw a whole lot of building sand through my sunroof and what didn`t go through the sunroof ended up on the outside. My whole car was full of sand on the inside. The fine building sand that you struggle to get out.









I have rarely been so angry. It`s a blessing that I did not catch the coward cos I would have left my Christian Beliefs behind and something really nasty would have ensued.

What I want to know is the following:
- Firstly, WHO would do such a thing? Could it be kids? There were footprints in the sand and it certainly belonged to an adult or at least a teenager.

- Secondly, WHY? Why go through the trouble of doing something like that? We pretty much keep to ourselves and have not had any trouble since we`ve been in the estate. We greet everybody and nobody has a reason to attack us in this way.

After being really upset for a while, I decided that the person was not going to ruin my day and Hayley and I had a pretty cool time. We drove around in her car during the morning and then we took my car to the car wash in the afternoon. It obviously cost quite a bit to get the car cleaned properly but it had to be done.
It`s incredible how personal we (I) take things like this. I mean the offender obviously does not know us, so it is anything but personal. It is not somebody who I would associate with in any case. Maybe it`s just a kid who took advantage of being out on Halloween. Maybe it was an adult who had one too many drinks? Maybe they just didn`t like my car.
What I do wonder about though is whether the person actually woke up the next day and felt bad about it? Are they being eaten up from the inside because they did something bad to another human being? Or did they get up, have a great laugh and thought of the next prank they could pull?

I don`t have the answers but what I do know is that in the greater scheme of things this was nothing really. I mean we were inconvenienced for a bit, that`s about it. No damage was done. It also just once again amplifies how the devil works. In the sermon yesterday, Jon spoke about the weakest link and how the devil uses the weakest link to get to us. My temper is definitely a weak link for me. I`m pretty mild mannered but some things really get me going. So something so small, in hindsight, got me so upset that I almost wasted a day by being upset. Thank goodness I came to my senses after a few minutes.

Thank you Lord for using something small and a sermon the next day to highlight one of my weak links. With your help, I can now concentrate on managing this weak link.

Ps. I will also NEVER leave my sunroof open again.

12 comments:

Heather Nicole said...

It may have been a dare, teenagers get carried away with things sometimes, especially if they are egged on by friends.

Heidi W said...

Ouch... that would have made me angry also. I'm glad you are finding lessons to learn in the situation! And yes, never leave the sunroof open again. :)

The Running Golfer said...

Heather, you`re probably right. We were all teenagers once I guess.

Heidi, yeah it took a while before I could see a lesson in it but rather late than never!

Ps. no more leaving the sunroof open!

David Richardson said...

Wow, Francois, I sure am sorry to hear this! I'll bet that got your blood boiling, as it would mine. Whoever did that has waaaay too much time on his or her hands. Hang in there, my friend.

Kevin said...

Live and learn - right.

The Running Golfer said...

David, thanks for the kind words my friend.

Kevin, spot on buddy.

Miller said...

I would of flipped my lid Broer, and that doesn't happen often. Lesson or no lesson learnt. If I had caught the blighter I would of taught it the lesson - One it would never forget!!!!

Anonymous said...

isn't it funny how we care so for material things. of course a car is a big investment, and thankfully y'all had no real damage. could have been sand in the gas tank - yikes.
i like that you share about sermons & anger. i'm thankful to have evolved *a little* to a place where spiritual things get me excited/ sad/ angry - hopefully appropriately, feeling more than when my daughter dings the car or i carelessly break something of value. i used to get more freaked out at those times.

of course i still yell "get some glasses!" at umpires when the strike zone is inconsistent :)
no saint here, i'm just thankful that's something the lord has been working in me.
seeing someone in self-destruct mode hurts; it seems i'm noticing people & situations more and it puts material things in perspective.
thanks for sharing francois. random mean-ness seems so juvenile; maybe they know who you are & are hurting. watching your reaction & honesty is witnessing to them i hope. i'll be praying for your acquaintance,van(dal).

nessie said...

sorry, friend :( That sucks. You've got a really good attitude about it really quick though! - and that really encourages me, because I'm also the kind of person who can get carried away being upset, taking things personally. You're right, in the greater scheme of things, it's not something to waste energy and life over.

and it was probably teens -.-

Kevin said...

Sand is such a random thing to vandalize a car with. Why not paint, or rocks or eggs - but sand?

The Running Golfer said...

They make bricks out of sand.....

The Running Golfer said...

Hey lisa & nessie. Sorry for not replying to your comments. I am in Jhb for some business, so it`s been quite hectic.

Thanks so much for the comments, it`s always awesome to hear from my good friends.