Elvis’s Ride

Elvis’s Ride

When in Paris, you see the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. The Colosseum and the Vatican Museums are must-sees when visiting Rome. No one would come to New York and fail to at least glance Lady Liberty’s way. So when I found myself in Nashville with a little time to spare, I did what any good tourist would do and took a turn through the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Growing up in Texas means I’ve done my share of two-stepping to country-and-western tunes, so I enjoyed the museum experience. I listened to audio of famous songwriters talking about their craft and saw at least a hundred fancy guitars. Porter Wagoner’s sequined suits are displayed next to Dolly Parton’s wasp-waisted dresses, and lyrics scrawled on legal pads hint at how humbly some songs are born.

But the oddest thing I saw in my pass through country music’s historic hall was Elvis Presley’s “Solid Gold” Cadillac. The car sits behind Plexiglas, its doors ajar and every surface gleaming. According to the literature, the car’s hand-rubbed finish is made of crushed diamonds and fish scales—and its bumpers are plated in 24-karat gold. Its interior boasts a record player, a shoe buffer, a bar, a swivel-mounted television set, and two telephones.

The seats are crushed velvet, the drapes are gold lamé, and the roof is studded with gold records. But oddly enough, the King of Rock and Roll rarely drove his car once he tricked it out. Mobs surrounded it. The slightest bump or scratch required hours of repair. Finally, Elvis parked the car in Graceland’s garage and then later sold it to his record label. It was better suited to display than it ever was for driving.

How many of us are in danger of accessorizing our lives to the point of uselessness? We are made to move—to be a people in transit from one world, one realm, to the next. But when maintaining our stuff becomes more demanding than obeying our Master, serious reflection is in order. I wasn’t sure what to make of Elvis’s gold-plated ride, but maybe it was a sermon on wheels. And I’m glad I heard it when I did.

I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Philippians 3:8, NASB