The Spiritual Practice of Car-Buying

This week, like it or not, my spiritual practice has been trying to buy a car. (As of this post...we're still practicing!) Over a 27 year marriage, and 50-something years of life, you learn some things about the world, about God, about yourself, and your beloved when you buy a car. 1. You enter and begin this practice usually when something is broken and cannot be repaired...usually it's the old car, but perhaps at times, it might be something else...something that has left you on the side of a road somewhere, or stranded in some way. So, car-buying is first and foremost a practice in healing and making one's life whole and functional again. 2. It is a paradoxical experience of inconvience and irritation, with a bit of excitment and anticipation, anger and frustration and relief all rolled up together. 3. It is also a sort of dance between the known and unknown, between one's ability to stretch and one's limitations, between what we can control and forces beyond control. 4. It is a practice that teaches you about your partner's entire life perspective...such as his/her levels of acceptable risk vs. comfort, attitude toward economics, aesthetics vs. utilitarian factors, how each of you approach and handle stress and decision-making. 5. It is a good Buddhist practice of learning unattachment. 6. It is a good Christian practice of balancing sacrifice, responsibility, and good stewardship. 7. It is a good Hindu practice of experiencing karma - good or bad, depending on how well you took care of your previous car, insurance, etc. 8. It's a good Jewish practice because undoubtedly you have the voice of your mother and father reciting their car-buying principals in your head the whole time! 9. Car-buying is also a practice in gratitude. You may be grateful (as I was) that things are not worse, and that you are in a position to buy a car - however old you may have to go. You also may be grateful for the expertise of others, and for the rare car salesman you may find that you actually like and dare to trust!