When a Leak Grabs Your Attention

It was a pretty long road trip. About 3000 miles in six days. And though the destination made it worthwhile (time with the kids and grandkids), it was a long time in the car.

The car was comfortable, a Subaru CrossTrek Sport that had the newest bells and whistles. the ride was smooth, the air was cool, the music was uplifting, and we got to listen to a great Jack Reacher adventure on iBooks. All in all, it was good trip. Being in the car over 50 hours with my wife was a true blessing.

But, underneath the surface of the trip was a danger. A danger that at any minute could set off a chain of events that could be disastrous.

With the gadgets and multiple sensors giving a variety of inputs by the push of a lever or a toggle of a switch … I soon discovered that one of the tires was a little low in air pressure. Not extreme, but about 10-15% below the other tires.

Once in Texas, I filled the tire to the right pressure. By halfway back to Virginia, the air had dropped again. So, I filled it up to match the others.

Upon return, I took it the dealer for regular maintenance — oil, filters, etc. I asked them to check the tire. They found it was low but so no problem. So I drove it.

However, the sensor kept showing the air dropped again. It never dropped more than 15% of max, so I didn’t fret too much.

I took it back to the dealer … and this time, they found the leak. A tiny hole on the edge of the tire. It was on the edge so it was not pluggable. Tomorrow, I go back to the dealer, for the third time about this issue, and will have them put on the tire they ordered.

This little hole, this pin prick in the tire, this tiny spot of air ventilating from the very thing I trust with my life … was dangerous. Could a bump expand the hole? Could the pressure finally blow? Could the air finally reach point where it slowly leaks out while traveling, even if driving to the dealer to get it fixed? Dangerous? Unknown circumstance? Uncontrollable outcomes?

This is like life. Sometimes it’s not the big,100 mile of hour twisters that get us. It’s the little, unseen, tiny thing that gets us.

The little root trips us on the trial.
The one word spoken in haste breaks down a relationship.
The distraction of one text while driving can cause an accident that changes lives.
The teeny cell can grow into incurable cancer tumor.

Think about it … Adam and Eve’s one bite of the apple … BAM, we are all paying for it.

How do you prevent this? What can you do? Let’s put it into the terms of the car …

• Have regular maintenance (a stitch in time saves nine)
• Pay attention to the warning signs (gauges, sensors, warning lights)
• Take care of the issue when it noticed (don’t let the sun go down in your anger)
• Get help when you need it (The sick man needs the doctors, the sinners need the savior) for we can’t do it ourselves.
• Remain vigilant.

Think about this in terms of relationships ….

• Have regular maintenance (a stitch in time saves nine, invest time and effort into the relationships)
• Pay attention to the warning signs (arguing over the small things, isolation)
• Take care of the issue when it noticed (don’t let the sun go down in your anger)
• Get help when you need it (The sick man needs the doctors, the sinners need the savior) for we can’t do it ourselves. (There is nothing wrong with professional help.)
• Remain vigilant. Remain vigilant.

So my hope? That the tire gets replaced tomorrow, that nothing happens till then, and that my wife appreciates all I am doing for HER car. (My FJ is fine, but it’s a Toyota)