Monday, December 19, 2011

Jiffy Lube and Health Care

“Change is good.” So said Jiffy Lube’s advertising fourteen years ago. I haven’t heard that slogan for a long time. Maybe it was a hard sell. Maybe it met with some resistance! Maybe it was just easier to promote oil changes. When I was moving from San Clemente to Santa Barbara, I spoke on the topic at church, beginning with a rock-and-roll song parody: “Change, change, change…”

Change is a constant. This recent cascade of changes began when I left Santa Barbara ten months ago, in February. That move triggered an avalanche of changes – to my health care, automobile care, real estate licensing, housing.

Appropriately, the first change, to my health care, took place at Jiffy Lube during one of my initial house-hunting visits to Albuquerque. As a symbolic thinker, I’ve noticed similarities between what is going on with my car and what is going on in my life. Out of gas? I’m exhausted, drained, empty. Need a new transmission? I’m changing gears. Flat tire? I’m out of balance. Front or rear tire? Conscious or subconscious mind. Right or left tire? Corresponding feminine or masculine part of the brain. I have come to think of my car as a vehicle for my body just as my body is a vehicle for my soul.

An attractive, well-dressed couple were my waiting room companions at Jiffy Lube. The wife and I exchanged pleasantries about my move to New Mexico and what she liked about living here. Her name was “Vangie,” short for Evangelina. One of my immediate concerns was transferring my health care coverage. On Medicare, I had a wonderful internist as my primary care physician in Santa Barbara at the highly-regarded Sansum Clinic. It was an HMO through United Health Care. When our conversation turned to business and career, Vangie handed me her business card. She was a United Health Care insurance representative. Peace and relief flooded through me when I realized I was in the flow, the Universe was continuing to love, support and provide for me. I now had a warm, personal, professional contact to assist me with transferring my health care coverage. It was so comforting. I don’t believe in accidents or coincidences. I believe these synchronicities, this “being in the flow,” is a result of ongoing spiritual practice – clear intention, prayer, meditation, belief. For me, it makes life a lot less stressful, more peaceful, more satisfying.

Several months later, when I moved to Albuquerque, I had an emergency hospital stay. It was time to transfer my health care, so I called Vangie. As soon as I said “Jiffy Lube lady,” she remembered me. After more than twenty years, she was no longer with United Health Care, but she had a referral for me to her colleague, Mac. He and I met for breakfast to review plans. When he described his business practice as based on repeat and referral business from happy, satisfied clients who value honesty and service, I beamed. “You couldn’t have said anything better to me, Mac. That’s the way I’ve practiced real estate for more than thirty years.” Mac and I are the same age. I’m now on the same top-of-the-line health insurance plan he has. I can go to any doctor, anywhere in the U.S., any time, including specialists, without a referral. He has been conscientious and caring about follow-up and follow-through. Calls are promptly returned whether for advice, information or “handholding.” I feel totally supported. I’m so grateful to be in the flow, to have my life work this way almost all the time, despite the circumstances. It has been more than worth the time and commitment to regular spiritual practice. It seems entirely appropriate to me that while taking care of my vehicle at Jiffy Lube, I took care of my bodily health too.