God and the Stuck Spark Plug - a Lesson in Prayer

Know what is hidden better than the whereabouts of Amelia Earhart? The spark plugs on a '98 Buick Century.

It was a hot and humid Saturday when I decided to undertake the seemingly ordinarily job of changing the spark plugs on my Buick. Ordinary, that is, until you realize that this V6 engine is mounted sideways and has hardly any room to get to the rear three plugs. I did some Internet do-it-yourself scouring to get some tips then dove into the task. I'm not that old (am I?) but I remember when spark plugs were an easy thing, and I kept repeating that as I took the Internet HowTo advice, removed two motor mounts, set the transmission into neutral and rotated the engine toward the front of the car using a lengthy 2x4. Hoses creaked, something made a metallic sound... This sound like a scary operation to you? Ummm -- yeah.

I was 5/6ths of the way through the project (for those of you who are math challenged, that means that I only had one more plug to change) when I hit a show stopper. Plug #1. Way in the back. Wouldn't budge, wouldn't move. Wouldn't come out. I applied every bit of strength I had. Nada. This critter was really stuck. I looked for a length of pipe to use on the wrench and quickly put it to work. So now I'm straining on three feet of pipe on the socket wrench handle -- and it still won't move! I apply more pressure, metal bending, straining. I feel something give as sweat drops off my head. Did I feel movement? Yes! It moved!

Then there was a snap, and the wrench moved more. I pulled the tools out and discovered that, unbelievably, I'd sheared the 3/8's socket extension clean off! What in the world? How could that give out before the plug came loose? I was stupefied. With rain descending, I flooded the spark plug area with WD-40 spray, closed the hood and went inside to get some lunch. All the while, that crazy stuck plug kept gnawing at me. Why wouldn't it come out? I did have a four foot piece of pipe -- maybe I should try that... Forty minutes later, the rain had stopped, so I returned to the driveway and began pulling on the four feet of pipe. Metal bent and strained, but no movement.

It was at this moment that a new thought hit me: I needed help (no comments on my sanity, please). So, I decided to invite God into this mechanical equation. It probably looked like I was puking into the engine compartment, but with eyes closed, I sincerely said something like this: "Father God, this machine known as a car is really nothing to you. But to me, it's a pretty big deal. It provides a way to get back and forth to work -- and it has a stuck spark plug that is driving me nuts. I don't know what to do, but I'd really like You to share in this experience. And if You were standing next to me in some greasy overalls, I'd be turning to You and saying, 'What do You suggest?'. So, I'm really hoping that You'll do that for me."

Then I waited. In the quiet, with the sound of the wind in the trees, a new thought occurred. What if I pushed down on the wrench rather than pulling? Hmmm. Intriguing idea. I positioned the wrench, poised to throw all of my weight down on the wrench...

...and that's when I heard a very small voice say, "Other way".

I immediately let go of the wrench and backed away from the car. Other way? What does 'other way' mean...?

And then I looked closer. Because this spark plug was on the backside of the engine, in a secluded spot, I had perceived things wrong. All along -- for what, an hour? -- I'd been tightening the plug! I reversed the socket wrench and the plug came right out with hardly any effort.

Other way.

I find it interesting, God's choice of words to me. He didn't say, "Wrong way!", or "Hey, dummy, turn it around. You're tightening the plug". The words from Him weren't accusing, they weren't threatening. They were helpful. They pointed out the truth, and they accomplished that quickly and efficiently. Just like I'd asked of Him.

I don't know about you, but lately it seems that God hasn't been answering some of my bigger prayers. I haven't seen Him work yet -- particularly in the lives of a couple of families that are very dear to me. Yet, here, on this hot Saturday, God had answered. And helped. I was immediately reminded of a time in my life from 2005 thru the end of 2007 where God did the miraculous on a regular basis. (Yeah, those two plus years are worthy of a book someday) God seemed to do something amazing nearly every week during that time. From surprise awakenings from sleep to pray for particular young people, to crushing burdens for others, to energizing chapel messages and short stories out of 'nowhere' to chaperoning some amazing high school trips and relationships -- Life was one amazing joy after another. I felt and knew God's direction through it all. And it was all His doing. He drove it all.

So, can I deduce that if God answered my request for help on a spark plug -- that He is also working in the lives and hearts of the people that I continue to plead for? Can He mend the wounded from a childhood of tragic memories? Can He bring salvation to others? Can He restore a damaged mother/daughter relationship? Can He forge forgiveness where decades-old hatred has been the norm?

My eyes can't see the results in a heart as easy as a spark plug in my hand.

But I'm starting to see with newer eyes.

Trusting eyes.

And I like this view.

Other way.

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Other articles I've done on Prayer:

"Singing" To A Cup -- A Creative Prayer gets me noticed at a traffic light -- Click Here

Praying with Text Messages -- Click Here

Graduation Prayer -- With a Surprise! -- Click Here

Creatively Praying for a Group of Teenagers -- Click Here