It is interesting how messages of life arrive at our own door. Very few come without the involvement or impact of someone else. We may be inspired by beautiful scenery or be affected by wildlife but more times than not it is by having another person touch us by their life's experience. So it was with Lou Thiesen. My privileged observation comes from a distance, yet so open to view. He painted a parallel picture with his life that, to me, is a masterpiece that I want to share.

His hobby was restoring antique cars, in particular Model A's. I have seen pictures and heard stories of how Lou would search the land for old discarded cars that once were new, shiny pride and joys, but now are left discarded to be forgotten. These cars and sometimes just partial portions all had common resting places such as being buried in mud, grass, back of barns or in bush. Time and the elements had reduced them to lost past memories.

Lou would go to great lengths to search out and find these gems of days gone by. It was with his passion and vision that he viewed not a pile of rusted metal, but rather a restored transformed work of love that looked the way the manufacturer originally designed. Much care and effort was spent by him working to the end goal of a "made new again" antique car.

As important as this hobby was to Lou, it was a weak competitor for his first love - his Saviour, Jesus Christ. Lou knew that Jesus does the same with each of us. He also has gone to great lengths to search us out and rescue us from the places where many feel they have been discarded and left to abandonment and the elements of life. Just as the old car remains could not rescue and help themselves, we too need the help of a restorer. Someone Who is able to come and take us into His workshop and transform us into what He oiiginally designed us for. That is what Jesus Christ does. He does not leave us on the garbage pile of a hard life. He takes us back with Him and makes us shinier than new. He gives us new purpose, design, abilities and life. His finished pieces are always a masterpiece. Just like Lou.

He rescued and restored cars, Jesus rescues and restores lives. So, when you see an antique car think about how it is a symbol of a new life made possible in Jesus.