Today I went to the Barrett-Jackson car auction. Over four days, they auctioned of 800 of the finest cars on the planet. Muscle cars, customs, exotics, and flawless classics…oh it was so wonderful!; But today didn’t start out that way.

I pulled up to the parking attendant, rolled down my window and handed him my money. “Here’s $10. Five is to pay for my parking, the other five is for the next guy who doesn’t have cash. Please don’t make anyone else drive around for an ATM to withdraw $5.” He looked at me in shock. I smiled, and drove past him to find my well-earned parking space. (That ended well, considering an hour ago I wanted to hit him with a baseball bat.)

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There were twenty thousand car fanatics in a 6-story tent. The energy in that place was unreal. I’ve been to dozens of college football games in the south, but nothing like this. As the cars drove up onto the stage for auction, their engines roared and the room filled with exhaust…ecstasy. I can’t describe how damn cool it was. My chest quivered with adrenaline.

The cars are only half of the fun–the buyers are the real entertainment. The common folk like myself were pushed behind the velvet rope, while rich and passionate fanatics clung close to the stage. There was an old 12 cylinder Lincoln Zephyr hot rod that pushed through the crowd and up onto the stage. It was one of the most beautiful cars I’d ever seen.; I sat with the thousands other people and gawked at the beast. It was like a superhero. The auctioneer unleashed the fury.

Over a few minutes, the bidding crossed into six figures. Two men were battling it out, both determined to bring this beast home. One man called in on the phone to bid, that left the other bidder on the stage with the prize. Bid after bid, the crowd roared.; Why not? If this guy on stage is going to spend that much…; After bidding passed $200,000, he tore off his suit jacket like a madman, swung it around his head and threw it on the ground. Whoa, this guy is pissed. He turned his back to the car and the auctioneer, and looked out into the crowd. He held his arms wide, gesturing for advice. The crowd erupted, and he spun around the threw his fist in the air, “Three hundred and twenty thousand dollars!” Oh, this will be fun.

The bidding went on, and so did the lunacy. It was like watching WWE wrestling, but instead of throwing chairs, they were throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Is this real? Yes. He won. He spent $400,000.

When I wasn’t inside watching the auction, I was running around the fields outside. I could get up close and personal with the cars before they were sold. So fine. If you stared at a car longer than minute, some other car nut would come up and start a conversation that would last for an hour.

I chatted with custom car builders. Oh these guys are living out my other life. One of the guys needed a website, and it took all my energy not to make a deal with him. I’d build him a tough website, and he’d build me a tough hot rod. I just don’t have the time.

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It was getting late and cold, so I headed back to my house. I couldn’t resist stopping at the Pavillions where locals come on Saturdays to show off their cars. It’s cool because you have everything from young guys with their Civics to older guys with top-dollar classics. Now I am here at my house, so excited, I can’t go to sleep.

I sat there today, knowing that I would never be able to afford any of those cars. This was as close as I would ever get. I have the talent and drive to make a lot of money. I’ve done pretty well in my 25 years on earth. But, I work in ministry, and it’s not the place to make a lot of money. Even if I could afford my dream, I don’t know if I would buy one. Who wants to donate money to a charity when their employees are driving around high-dollar hot rods?

What will heaven be like? In heaven I would like to drive all the cars I saw today. I know God is bigger and more wonderful than any car, but I have trouble understanding that. But I know the feeling I get when I stand in front of a Mustang Eleanor.

I just trust that God has a plan for me. I will continue to serve him in every way. That brings me so much pleasure. Hopefully there is a five-car garage waiting for me in heaven.