The Crapcar, the Crapking and the King of all kings

“You’ll never make me ride in that car again!” I protested. My dad just gave us his old 1980 Celica because he finally got a new car. Butch gratefully accepted but I was disappointed. The old clunker has been with my family since I was in the 3rd grade! For years, my sisters and I have been embarrassed to be seen riding it. The dilapidated car would conk out in the middle of the road. It had no air-conditioning, the upholstery was practically rotting and you’d have to slam the door real hard just to close it. Butch was very excited to get the car.

“This car will look awesome when restored! Besides, the engine is still running well.” He argued. Butch and I met in our church’s youth group. Honestly, I have no idea what attracted him to me. When I was younger, I didn’t put much effort in how I looked. Never wore make-up, it irritated my skin. Before going out of the house, I just combed my hair and put on something clean (didn’t follow fads in clothes either). I wasn’t even approachable. Many say their first impression of me was haughty and stuck-up. Some people even found me really weird; maybe because my taste in everything was different. In music for example, while everyone was listening to Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, I played my Tori Amos, Fiona Apple and Bjork CD much to my sister’s dismay. Despite my quirkiness, Butch took interest in me. He begun by sending me text messages, we became good friends, started going steady and after four years finally got married. Strangely enough, Butch appreciated things about me most people found peculiar. He is probably the most non-judgmental person I know. He’s very down to earth and takes time to see beyond the physical. For this reason, I started calling him the “CRAPKING”. He seems to “appreciate” things about me most people would find “crappy’. And I became his “CRAPQUEEN”! Our favorite Bible verse then was “ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong…” 1 Corinthians 1:27

I was a mess when the Lord found me- sick, depressed and hopeless. I struggled with many things. I was one of those “Christians” who did something naughty in the weekdays and repented on Sundays only to go back to my old ways on Monday morning onwards. I’ve hurt the Lord too many times. One Sunday in a worship service, I was very ashamed of myself but I will never forget what He told me. “There’s NOTHING you can do to make me LOVE YOU LESS…” I didn’t understand what God saw in me. I deserved to burn and rot in hell for my sins. He is the King of kings. What business does he have minding a pathetic being like me? I did not deserve the love and forgiveness he bestowed on me. He even once said that I was a “dusty rough diamond” that he will clean, cut and polish till I shine and glimmer.

Giving it the nickname the “Crapcar”, little by little we had the Celica fixed. It took some time before it got restored because Butch had to budget the money needed. After six months of continues repair this is how it turned out…




Not bad eh! Even my dad was surprised.

Seeing Butch’s efforts in restoring the car made me very proud of him. To me, the old Celica was a piece of junk ready to be thrown away. It was a source of great embarrassment and shame. But Butch saw its great potential behind the dents, chipping paint and all the damages. The car just needed someone to give it some attention and care.

The Crapking strikes again!

I am blessed to be loved by the Crapking and the King of all kings! Sometimes I feel like I am the 1980 Celica. But like how Butch saw a beautiful vintage car in the Celica, the King of all kings saw me as a “dusty rough diamond”. He looked past my sinfulness and shame. Instead, He sees me as His beloved daughter He created in His image and likeness. Similar to the Celica, I was damaged and ready to be thrown away but His love and acceptance restored and changed me.