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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Empty and Full (06/04/09)
I’m always doing this – Running on Empty. Call me disorganised. Some would say lazy. Would it be so difficult to pull into a filling station once in a while and throw a little petrol into the tank? Really, would it?? Why do I never do that? I think I must be allergic to petrol, or garage forecourts, or something.

I’m driving along, feeling content, music on the radio, not a care in the world. I glance at the petrol gauge – oh look, its below the half full (half empty?) mark. Maybe I should keep an eye out for a filling station, maybe look for one selling petrol cheaper than the rest. Here’s what you do: Go in. Fill up. It’s not hard.

Here’s one, see? Pull in, put in a little petrol, drive away (after paying, of course – I am a Christian afterall). Look at all those other sensible, organised drivers doing it. If I go in now, its over and done with. I’m getting closer, I’m nearly at the turn-in, I’m turning in, fighting the urge to keep on driving.....fighting...

...but not winning....I’m not turning in, I’m driving on. I can’t be bothered. Besides, there’ll be another one down the road, and it’s probably selling its petrol cheaper. Financially sensible, I tell myself. Besides, there’s a good song on the radio, and I want to hear to the end of it. And I’m quite comfy here. Don’t want to get out of my nice warm car. Years ago, they had someone to fill up for you. Not anymore. Now you have to stand for, ooh, ages, waiting for the tank to fill. So boring. Yeah, maybe the next one.

So now my red light is on. Nearly empty. Now I’ll do the thing that really annoys my husband. I’ll park the car outside the house. He’ll get in it tomorrow, to go to work, and he’ll see the red light. It will start flashing just as he’s pulling out of the driveway. So now it’s really urgent – really empty. He has no choice but to pull in at the next filling station (which sells its petrol more expensive than anyone else) and fill up. He might be late for work, but no matter......

I do feel a slight pang of guilt for him, occasionally. But not enough to actually get myself organised, so that the inclination to fill up coincides with being in the right place (outside a petrol station) at the right time (not rushing somewhere/no good songs on the radio), with the right money (not having forgotten my purse). And when all that happens and I’m standing there feeding the car, I actually feel quite good about myself, quite righteous. Won’t my husband be pleased? I find myself thinking – I could do this more often. When was the last time I did this? ......some time last year? ....couldn’t be sure. Ah the joy of a nice full tank. Seeing the petrol gauge right at the top, knowing I don’t have to worry about it, for this journey at least.

I ran out of petrol once. Actually completely ran out of petrol. The tank was so empty there weren’t even any fumes left. The car just stopped, right where it was, in the middle of traffic. Just kinda died. Gave up. Didn’t even protest. Funny thing is, I couldn’t work out what had happened. It just never occurred to me. Not until the repair truck arrived to tow me away (having waited two hours for the mechanic to turn up). And it was only when he asked had I put petrol in it recently that I had this sinking feeling.....
Not that it made me change my ways, well for more than a month anyway. I don’t reckon I’ll ever change (my poor husband). I like the privilege of driving a car, but not the responsibility that goes with it. I don’t want to be bothered with the discipline of maintaining a full tank, or at least one that’s not running on empty. I’ll just drive on regardless. Now, let’s find a good song on the radio.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Rachel Burkum
06/16/09
You left me smiling! I love the dry humor in this piece, which you pulled off well. I was attracted by the casual, well-written tone.

I could see this easily becoming more of a devotional thought with a spiritual application about "filling up" with God, the Word, etc, before our spirits hit "empty."

Good job. :)
Sharon Laughter
06/17/09
Hahahahaha! ME TOO!!! My daughter in law as well does the same thing to my son and he is baffled by this. He taught me then to see the half tank as really empty and never let it get below that. Then, for a treat you can pass the station by ONCE IN A WHILE. Continue to work on grammar.... I enjoyed this, obviously.