Life as an Auction

If you have never experienced a live auction of any product, you are missing an exciting event. Especially an auto auction which to me exemplifies real true life. Do I sound like I am not making a whole lot of sense? Please allow me to explain.
The very first time I went to an auction I bought a VW which I felt very proud of because I literally stole it under the market price. Driving it to the dealership, I heard several noises which I discounted as ordinary wear and tear, but to my surprise the transmission began to buck and eventually gave out. $3000 later I learned several valuable lessons: 1. If you are going to buy a used car, check it out before you do, 2. Be careful who you buy from because you can trick up a transmission to run well for a mile or two, and 3. If you think you stole something at an auction with several hundred other expert bidders watching on, you have false pride.
How does that apply to sobriety and walking by a moral compass: 1. Consult God before any major purchases or life changes, he could and would help you. 2. When the Bible says "be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" we tend to think of being innocent first, but what I see God telling us is to elevate our thinking beyond the company we are keeping. If in a pit of snakes, think of how to slither out of there without getting fatally bit (see #1 as how to get out), and 3. Stay humble always, you can be replaced in any situation by someone doing #1 & 2 correctly.
To further make my point, consider the auctioneer. His job is to 1. Speak as loud and fast as he can to confuse you and make you think people are bidding against you when they are sometimes not, (when they see someone show up in a suit and tie, they will run that person up incessantly because they know how much "false pride" they have) 2. To make you pay every penny of what the vehicle is worth, thus making the seller happier than the buyer, and 3. To tell as many funny stories as he can to keep your guard down.
Like yesterday, a Subaru came in the lane, which caused the auctioneer to say, &*^% I can't even spell Subaru or whatever you call it, that's why I drive a F O R D, cause I can remember it a lot easier." While everyone was still laughing at his redneck twang, the bidders went ballistic and ran the car up well beyond its intended value. Point taken.
What can we learn from this? 1. Listen to the right voice about how your life should go, if you think you paid too much with God, remember how much he paid for you. 2. Don't keep people constantly trying to earn your love and respect, it wears them out and costs too much in human dignity. Extend grace, your reward will be much more fulfilling. And 3. Don't manipulate people with your charisma and charm, make them laugh, make them feel good about themselves, but don't steal their wallet in the process (major addict defect#1).

See, Life As An Auction is a lot like every day life, maybe that's why I enjoy the process. Consult an authority greater than yourself, count the cost of making a major move or change, use your brains and talent to their full potential (instead of fool potential), be graceful and humble, and don't talk so fast that no one can understand you. 

And, if you tell funny stories, laugh with others not at them.