July 13, 2015
Dear Friends and Family of the Diocese of Eau Claire,
After a month of sitting in the garage, my wife’s car would not start. I needed to replace the battery. She has a 2013 Ford Escape. I also have a 2011 Ford Escape. The only thing the two vehicles have in common is the name Escape. Back in the early spring I replaced the battery on the 2011 SUV. It took me ten minutes. I pulled one battery and replaced it in a Sears parking lot. Henry Ford would be proud of this car.
The 2013 Escape is a different story. The battery is half hidden beneath the dashboard. Only the positive side of the battery is exposed. I needed to remove the entire housing of the air cleaner to access the battery. I had to buy a set of small, flat socket wrenches to remove the battery bracket and negative battery cable. In order to accomplish this task I watched two computer videos on how to change the battery. I needed to know when forcefully to remove something and when to be gentle so some item, especially the plastic air cleaner housing, wouldn’t break. Both mechanics in the video explained that the battery placement was a poor design. It took me five hours to replace the battery!
Why has Ford made such a change? The older Escape is very practical and reliable. It doesn’t have many frills but is easy to service. Ford designed the newer Escape to be full of gadgetry and electronics but also wants you to take it to the dealer for repairs. Henry Ford would complain. I’m with Henry on this one.
Ford Motor Company has decided most people don’t want to be resourceful in repairing vehicles. Customers want something reliable but will turn the car over to professionals to address maintenance and repair issues. I think this is lazy and leads to an unnecessary dependency on others.
In the Diocese of Eau Claire I want us to be resourceful in how we take our Christian faith and apply it in practical ways. Like the mechanics teaching me to replace my battery, experts are great as guides. Still you need to solve problems yourself. This takes time, energy, and hard thinking. I was proud of myself when I replaced the battery and the engine fired up. We need to be this way when applying our faith to a given problem and cheering when we succeed. Don’t be dependent on your clergy as religious experts. Use them as resources but take pride in working with God to fix your own problems. Not only will you be happier, but your relationship with God will have a purpose and vibrancy beyond anything you could imagine! With my love and best wishes, I am,
Your brother in Christ,
Jay