Feature Request: A car that will make me a better husband

Here’s my dream scenario:

It’s 5:30 P.M. and I’m pulling into my apartment complex. As I near my parking space, the radio fades to silence and a pre-recorded message begins playing: You are arriving at home. Do not be deceived by the cozy nature of that word or its comfortable connotations. Do not think for a moment that because you have left work, that you have put your work behind you. You must not be such a fool. This is where your most important work is done. Because of this, you can not afford to drag yourself across the threshold and collapse into your favorite chair. Instead, steel your nerves and screw your courage to the sticking place. Throw open the door of your house and face what lies inside as a man. There is no higher calling than this. You have no greater duty.

I don’t know that I need to hear the whole speech everyday, but I certainly need to be reminded of it. I don’t know about anyone else, but it’s far too easy for me to walk through the door of my apartment and act as if my day is done. I’ve done my eight, nine, ten hours of work, I think, I’ve done my share. Meanwhile, my wife has just as many hours of work with our two children behind her and probably wishes that she could punch out too.

Clearly, I have a problem. What I need is a reminder, a punch in the arm, and occasionally, in the face. I need to remember that within the walls of my home, I’m responsible for the spiritual well-being of everyone there. I’m the high priest of my household, the pastor of my little flock, the king of a tiny domain. And don’t get me wrong, I like the titles just fine, it the stupid responsibility that comes with them that gets in the way. So I need this feature: Ford, Chevy, GMC, Saturn, Volkswagen, Honda, are you listening?

So here’s my question. If someone put a car with this feature up for sale, what would you want it to say to you when you arrived at your destination? Post your custom “welcome home” message below or on your blog. If you let me know about it, I’ll link to it here.

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1. Spot on.

   Of course, there would be some who would view your sentiments as further evidence of the insidious patriarchal narrative/oppression which infects our society.

   Fortunately, I, and I assume you as well, are married to women who don’t buy into that.

   It is difficult to behave as you describe. I think the little things matter. Yes, we are the leader but we are to act like Christ. We must pick up and carry the burden, too.

   Marriage is not about power. It is not “zero-sum.”

   Most people don’t understand that.

   More’s the pity.

   Cheers.

   

   R.Sherman

   20 Apr 07 at 9:55 pm

    

2. It is difficult to behave as you describe. I think the little things matter. Yes, we are the leader but we are to act like Christ. We must pick up and carry the burden, too.

   Precisely. I think it is quite illuminating that the counterpart to the wife’s command to submit to her husband is that the husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and to give himself for her. Such love requires that we begin with service and humility.

   Thanks for the read and the comment.

   

   Charles

   22 Apr 07 at 12:44 pm

    

3. If someone put a car with this feature up for sale, what would you want it to say to you when you arrived at your destination?

   “Time to play the man.”

   

   Ariel

   22 Apr 07 at 6:49 pm

    

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