Subject: Cracked Windshield in Saturn
Date: Thu, 03 Jun 1999 11:03:09 -0400
From: Caleb Cohen
To: Various

Background: (keep reading, this gets good)

Lucinda, Marie, Kam and I were driving to the zoo, took a rock hit, VERY
loud, in the bottom left hand corner of the Saturn's windshield. A crack
formed and within 15 minutes of driving, it grew tremendously, but
fortunately, out of the line of sight.

I called USAA, they referred me to a local firm of a national chain, Safe
Lite Auto Glass. Repairs are free, no deductible. Replacement is regular
comprehensive deductible - $500.

I spoke with Safe Lite and they were complete idiots to me on the phone and I
even hung up on them. Spoke with another company, who was very nice to me,
but told me the crack was probably not repairable. In the mean time, the
owner of the local Safe Lite had called me at work and at home, leaving VM at
both asking to talk to me about the car. I spoke with my dad who confirmed
that it was probably not repairable, but in the least, Safe Lite had no reason
to be so rude to me - hey, I left NJ behind me, didn't I?

The owner of Safe Lite called again Wednesday and wanted to look at the car.
I asked her why, told her I talked to another glass company and am working
with them. She gave me the "But USAA referred you to us, we're direct bill"
to which I told her I would rather pay for this repair out my own pocket than
deal with Safe Lite and give them the business.

I then offered up, "I'm guessing you overheard the conversation I had with
Mike yesterday that you keep calling me back." She had and apologized, which
is all I was looking for. I then told her we could work something out and her
people came to look at the car today. The story is just starting to get good,
don't stop here...

The glass people came today to look at the windshield. He took a look at it
and said "this is a one in a thousand break." He really thought it was
repairable based on the look of it - but the break was on the INSIDE of the
glass. I guess there are multiple panes in there and the rock hit so hard, it
barely even scuffed the outside, but broke the inside. You can feel the crack
on the inside, but nothing on the outside.

Now let me give a little bit more of the story. I was mad at these guys
yesterday because they were mean to me and were my primary means of getting my
car repaired at a reasonable cost. I dealt with nicer people in New Jersey
and felt like I was right back there with their rudeness. Last night at
church, during what was supposed to be an aside, we had a lengthy discussion
on forgiveness. For some reason, these guys kept coming to my mind, so I felt
the need to explicitly forgive them, which I did last night and again this
morning in prayer.

First thing this morning, Mike, the guy from Safe Lite who was rude to me on
the phone, called and apologized directly to me for being short with me on the
phone. I was very nice to him, who I despised just yesterday. I told him all
was fine, I accepted his apology, and had a nice little chat with him.

Back to the main story - they can't repair the glass, so I'm back in the same
place I was 2 days ago if you think about it. Wait for the crack to get to
the field of vision, then replace the windshield. Looking at the cracks, this
could happen by the weekend...

Mike calls back shortly after the mobile team leaves. He and I chat for a
few minutes, I again tell him there are no hard feelings and my experience was
excellent with Safe Lite, etc. He then offers to replace the windshield for
me, free of charge. Praise God!

According to Mitchell, a friend who manages the service department at Saturn
of Ann Arbor, the windshield itself is a $400 item that they sell to the glass
company who does the repair.

I truly believe this free windshield is a direct blessing from God for both
our faithfulness and my act of forgiveness towards those who wronged me. At
church we are in the early stages of a stewardship campaign. God blesses you
in ways you can not imagine or predict. On one week, we give a check to the
church as a tithe and offering. It may be "more than we can afford" or we
could look at it as "gee, if I give this much, then I won't be able to buy
this thing I want." But on the other hand, God sees our faithfulness and
provides for us in the time of need. Could Lucinda and I afford a new
windshield, yes - we're doing fine financially and haven't tithed over our
*entire* paycheck. But does God want us to enjoy the fruits of our labor?
Yes and Amen!

This is but one of I am sure many praise reports that are coming out of our
church. God is doing a great thing and we are thrilled to be a part of it.
Note that with respect to this windshield, not once did I complain to a
manager, threaten to tell USAA or anything of the like. She kept calling me
and I never returned her calls. All I did for this was forgive them.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my
house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw
open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not
have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and
the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.
"Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful
land," says the LORD Almighty.
- Malachi 3:10-12

You define "pests devouring your crops" how you want, but right now I see
pests as rocks and crops as windshields! Our God is an Awesome God!

Caleb

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