I pulled into the lot, got out, and went in to get a small coffee. There was a gentleman in line paying for a case of beer, and he finished up and went out.
I got my coffee, paid for it, and went to my car. I set the coffee in the beverage holder, looked in my review mirror, shifted to reverse, began to ease out, and felt a slight resistance and a squashing.
I again look in the mirror over the dash and see nothing. I look in the driver’s side mirror and see the front of a very small car pulled up behind me as if attempting to push through.
The car was empty, with the driver’s door open. I noticed the driver ending a conversation with the driver of the vehicle parked next to mine, and he moved toward his car. It was the gentleman who had paid for the case of beer just as I entered the store.
I was puzzled as the vehicle was not there when I got in my car;
- Would he have to have seen me get in and put my car in reverse?
- Who would pull behind a car and get out to have a conversation, leaving his car unattended?
- Did he see a friend on his way out and jump out to say “Hi,” not thinking it would be better to return to a parking spot?
- Had his drinking before purchasing the case impacted his judgment?
No matter. I had backed into his car, and the damages were now my responsibility! But there was no damage to my car.
I had backed up at a full 0.005 mph and had traveled less than a foot. But there was damage to his left front bumper; it had been pushed in a few inches, and this would not be good for my insurance rates! My being a good driver and working to keep the lowest insurance rates possible — out the window!
I said to him, “Let me get my information,” and turned to my car to get the registration and insurance card when he said,
“Looks like there is no damage to your car.”
“But there is to yours.”
“Don’t worry about it. No harm, no foul.” And he drove off.
Could I not understand the unreasonableness of his actions in stopping his car as he did? If he were trying to collect payment for a previous accident, he did not follow through on it. Was he concerned that a responding police officer, if called, would smell alcohol on his breath? With all of my reasoning out of what had just occurred, I had forgotten to thank God.
Sometimes we don’t need to reason things out. We just need to know that God is here.
Romans 8:28 (KJV)And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.