“The Toyota Yellow Ute 😎story by Pan 💓
I’ve just come back from the country town of Benalla, where I had a beautiful break with family after a busy and hectic few months around Melbourne.
Being away gave me a chance to breathe, to rest, and to remember the importance of stepping back from the constant movement of life.
Now that I’m home again, feeling rested and recouped, I find myself standing at the window looking outside at the old Toyota yellow Ute.
It has been around for many years, doing what it was built to do- working the land, carrying loads, being of service in a quiet, reliable way.
The marks, the dents, the faded paint all tell the story of its life, of its many years in the country doing the chores only it could know.
There’s something deeply touching about it. This old Ute, with all its wear and tear, still stands strong. And yet as I look at it, I sense it is ready for something new-ready for someone who can breathe fresh life into it, perhaps carry it into another chapter.
In this moment, I can’t help but see the reflection of our own lives.
We too carry the marks of our own journey-the wear of time, the challenges we’ve endured, the experiences that have shaped us. Some may see the those marks as flaws, but in truth they are stories, just as the Ute’s body tells its tale.
They are proof that we have lived, that we have worked, that we have served in our own way.
But just like the Ute, there comes a time when we need to ask: am I still carrying out the same old tasks because it’s all I’ve ever known? Or is my soul nudging me toward something new, something that will bring fresh life and meaning?
Sometimes we hold onto old roles, old responsibilities, even old identities long after their season has passed. We stay because it is familiar, because it’s what we’ve always done. Yet deep down, the spirit whispers: there is more. Renewal is possible, just as restoration is possible.
The Ute reminds me that nothing is ever truly finished-life simply shifts into another form. What once served one purpose may be given new life in another.
And so it is with us. Each stage of our journey matters. Childhood, youth, adulthood, elder years-they each carry their own story, their purpose.
But the gift is knowing when to let the old chapter close, and when to embrace the new.
So perhaps today we can ask ourselves:
What parts of life are showing their wear and tear, asking to be released or renewed?
Where am I being invited to pass something on, to allow fresh energy to flow in?
Am I honouring the story of where I’ve been, while also making space for what is yet to come?
The old Ute May one day find a new owner, someone to restore it, someone to see its value afresh. And so too with us-the Divine never discards us.
The Creator, the Spirit, always sees the life, the strength, the beauty that remains in us, even when we feel worn.
We are never past our purpose.
We may simply be ready for a new one.
Blessings
Rev Pananda DonnaRae Kohlman
Audio
Teaching from “The Toyota Yellow Ute”
Renewal and the Courage to Begin Again
Rev. Pananda’s story of The Toyota Yellow Ute reminds us that everything in life carries both purpose and season. Like the weathered old vehicle that has served faithfully for years, each of us bears the marks of our journey — the dents of experience, the faded paint of time, and the quiet strength of endurance. These are not signs of decline; they are the sacred evidence that we have lived, loved, and contributed.
Yet even the most steadfast of lives reach moments of transition. The Ute, though still strong, stands at the threshold of renewal — ready for new hands, new journeys, and new purpose. So too, our souls sometimes whisper that it is time to release old roles, old responsibilities, and old identities that once served us well but now feel complete.
This story invites us to listen gently to that whisper.
It is not about abandoning who we are, but allowing life to breathe fresh energy into what we can become. Renewal does not erase the past; it honours it — just as restoration keeps the marks that tell a story, but polishes them with love and new intention.
Spirit never discards us. The Divine sees beyond the wear and tear, recognising the light and potential that still shine within. Every ending carries the seed of a new beginning; every resting place holds the breath before the next movement.
So today, let the old Ute remind you:
- You have not outlived your purpose.
- You are not finished; you are being reshaped.
- What once carried you may now need to be released, so that life can carry you anew.
🜂 When we let go of what has served its time, we open the way for Spirit to restore, renew, and redefine our purpose. The journey does not end — it changes form.
