English: Australian 1962 Ford Falcon XL (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Oil Change

160.002 miles on one and 113,500 miles are on the other.  It used to be every 3,000 miles but now I use synthetic oil and so changing the oil every 5,000 miles seems to work.  I once owned a 1965 Ford Falcon that had over 250,000 miles when I sold it.  As they say, the cheapest car you can get is the one you already have.

In less than six years Hugh and Tammy Pennington have driven their 2006 Silverado more than a million miles.  Irv Gordon’s 1966 Volvo passed the 3 million mile mark in July of this year.  He never ignores an odd sound, changes his oil every 3,000-3,500 miles, and generally babies that car.

My father’s 1938 Desoto was still running in 1972 and I can’t say if it still does.  I do know one thing though:  One day that 2006 Chevy, 1966 Volvo. 1938 Desoto and all the rest will stop running and end up in an automotive ‘graveyard’.

We too will all one day be there.  There has been no end of discussion in our nation over what has come to be called “obomacare”.  Instead of joining the fray, I would rather add this:  No matter how good or how bad, how cheap or how expensive our care is one day we too will stop running.  No matter how well we eat, how regular our checkups or how healthy our weight, we will one day end up in the graveyard as well.

Instead of fussing and worrying about whether or not I can get a million or three million miles on my car, I do the best I can but focus on the job at hand made possible by my 2004 Honda Civic.  Instead of fussing so much over healthcare laws perhaps we might make more progress by using the health we have to do the most good we can for as long as we can.  Whether we get 40, 60, 80 or even 100 years out of our bodies, the sights we see, the people and places we visit, the good that is done and the memories made are what counts.  May God grant us strength, purpose for living, light in our eyes and life in our heart all of days whether many or few.