The latest news on the economy across the world has everyone scratching their heads and working on their worry lines. I do believe I speak for everyone else when I say it’s a crazy time we are entering into.
Reminders of the stories my gran would tell how they would make ends meet back in the day, I feel it is fast approaching into action for me. I am more and more aware that the Rand in my pocket just doesn’t stretch to Timbuktu as I would like it to do and the concept of turning pennies is becoming a reality I am facing like many others around me.
With the latest petrol increase I tried to stretch the couple liter’s I had in my car to payday. I free wheeled on the downhills and prayed through the inclines. If you have ever been to my side of the valley you would know I’m praying more than what I am free wheeling. We have hills for Africa.
I counted the days before pay day and worked on planning my trips in such a way that I won’t do any added roundabout trips to push for the ultimate limit that I can get out of my gas tank. Wednesday afternoon I had 3 days (Not counting Saturday and Sunday) before payday and I had 2 bars showing on the petrol Gauge.
I thought okay. We can do this. 2 Bars are not empty. It ain’t full either but I can work with it. That is to say if the 2 bars are closer to the halfway mark or closer to the empty mark. Which would then mean I was in trouble.
But focus on the positive I tell myself. Miracles are at hand. I repeated a mantra, “My tank is full, my tank is full” as I eased into the Thursday morning traffic.
I crawled through traffic not saying a word how slow it was moving. This is what I need to remember.
By Thursday afternoon the usual mad rush from school, work and after school curricular activities I take the time to run an errand while my daughter had some math tutoring. Forgetting my mantra and forgetting to go at a snail’s pace as time is limited.
In time to collect my daughter the one light I hate the most starts doing attention seeking maneuvers on my dashboard.
Did I not pray that this tank will last me 2 more days of travelling?
C’Mon! What is up with the “My tank is full” part?
Doing a mental calculation on how my finances look to spare some bucks towards some petrol I turned my car towards the nearest gas station. Mumbling away at the inconvenience of this unplanned event.
I was greeted by a very eager attendant. The jovial smile on her face was enough to help me forget that my Little Car needs Petrol vs Month end woes.
I greet her with the same enthusiasm that she approached me with and I say:
“Hi there! Could you please fill up with R100 for me?”
Not forgetting to add sweetly: “Unleaded if you have it my dear”
I acted as if I were ordering 18th Century bottle of expensive Pinotage laced with gold reserved for single moms driving Little Silver automobiles only.
Guys, I could literally read this woman’s mind as her whole demeanor just dropped and her face.
She was like: “Eh? Come again?”
Uttering a brave sigh. I said a bit softer.
Sorry, R100 Unleaded please and don’t worry about the oil and water.
I mean I felt bad enough for her to activate the petrol pump for my small R100 note that would take her 1 minute to pour into my thirsty petrol tank. I didn’t want to add to her duties by asking to check the oil and water as well.
Those are reserved for the rich guys filling their tanks. The lotto winners in my eyes.
She finished faster than what she started. I was still blessing that R100 note and praying for its abundance in my petrol tank when I could hear the click of my closing Petrol cap.
Did I get fumes or did I get a “Glug” of petrol.
It felt as if she just opened the nozzle for a drop and it fell down the corridors to my petrol tank into a dry splat.
I checked the petrol pump Gauge to see it showed just over 4 liters. Gosh what if I swap bread for a liter of petrol. Perhaps I should start bartering! Bake bread for a liter of petrol.
The petrol attendant wanted to bring me the card machine. Honey! It will be cash, thank you. I ain’t adding bank charges to my measly 4 liters of petrol. That’s adding insult to injury.
I drove off and I felt deflated. Thinking back to the time where I could drive a whole week with R100 of petrol. It was hard then. But it’s even harder now. I don’t know how the road looks at the end of this all. For some I know it’s an even harder stretch.
I can only pray, Lord show us the way. Let us be reminded that you are the one that provides for us. You are the one that we need to look to. For you are greater than this R100 / 4ltr of petrol worry over my head.
My friends, I want to encourage you today. I know we are all in the same boat. Some deeper in a sinking ship than others. But step out of these problems all of us are facing. Stepping out of our worries and fears will allow us to see the bigger picture. We will broaden our view to see how God is active in our lives. And if you doubt it. Please let me know. I want to pray with you. I want to be there for you to show you there is hope. There is a light.
So true. Thank you for your words. It’s a crazy world we live in . Every thing seems so hard. The eskom, covid,political,financial and lack of water here in the eastern cape. But it’s words like yours that make me take a big breath this morning and think ok I can do this. You know why? Because I’m not alone . We are all in this together, and that makes all the difference.