What is authenticity?
Why is it important?
How do you achieve authenticity?
Finding something completely genuine in life means keeping that item as a treasure for future posterity or for your own pleasure.
In understanding the experiences of life, I have been given the rare opportunity of driving a 1984 El Camino, which was purchased by my grandfather in December of 1983. Cleaning out the glove box one day, I found the original receipt for $11,000. As a wheat farmer in Eastern Washington, my grandfather had obtained prosperity by hard work and clinging to a few principles, which he shared with my grandmother.
My cats enjoying the warmth of the hood: from left to right, Natasha and Alexander, December 2013.
Every ten years he would purchase a brand new El Camino with cash. Learning that the El Camino would be discontinued, and not knowing when that would be, he purchased a 1984 model. Trading in his 1969 El Camino for a brand new 1979 provided me the opportunity to purchase that El Camino when I was 18. I always regretted trading in that vehicle. I told myself that if I ever had the opportunity to have another El Camino in my life, I would keep it, treasure it, and renovate it.
The El Camino was always my grandfather’s car until he could no longer drive. My grandmother drove it until she voluntarily gave up her driver’s license and turned its care over to my parents. However, they had their own vehicle; so eventually, the question arose as to who would receive the vehicle. Potentially, it was to go to my cousin on the east coast, but the cost and trouble of getting it there seemed arduous, as was the case with my other cousin in California. Next, the question was addressed to my sister, but adding another vehicle to their collection seemed redundant.
Can you imagine how I felt when the question was asked,
Would you like to have the El Camino?
Leaving my car at the park and ride and continuing my journey to work on the bus saves wear and tear on my car, March 2013.
My grandfather’s 1984 El Camino had 85,000 original miles on it when I received it, and still has less than 150,000. Plans for restoring it include riding the bus to extend its life. During one of my recent visits to the mechanic for some necessary maintenance, the office manager commented,
You want to maintain its vitality.
Reflecting on how true her statement was, I thought how understanding the experiences of life leads to appreciating the importance of the genuine article. Being a truly authentic human being requires considering:
- purpose
- preservation
- endurance
- vitality
Road trip to Ocean Shores with my El Camino, March 2013.
My desire to maintain and preserve this icon of my grandparent’s lives stems from my own need to remain true to what my Creator intended for my original purpose, to care for and nurture myself to endure the passing of time, and to have the vitality to enjoy every moment God gives me on this earth.
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