My Thursday morning Bible stud brothers and I were at the front counter paying for our meals when we witnessed a bit of unexpected drama.
Our waitress Debbie was trying to get the room ready for the normal rush of group meetings. Another party of three people came in to do business - a man in a white shirt and tie with a gigantic pile of papers under his arm (probably the boss) and his two female colleagues. Another waitress was about to seat the threesome when Debbie asked her colleague to move them to a table farther back.
At that point, the man marched up to the cash register, his pile of papers in as much disarray as his emotions, "Well, I guess we're not wanted here!" he huffed, and stormed out the door, with his embarrassed colleagues right behind him.
This fellow didn't know our waitress like we do. He didn't know Debbie's generous serving heart. He also did not consider that she had to think about the needs of every customer in the place. His attitude was, "how dare this peon tell me where to sit? Doesn't she know I'm an important man?"
I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. I thought I could actually see the letters J-E-R-K appear on his forehead.
Two seconds later, under some spiritual discomfort, I removed the beam from my own eye.
I wish I could say I'd never acted like a spoiled child in public when my carefully laid-out plans were foiled. But it wouldn't be true.
How do we react when we don't get our way? How can we train ourselves not to let our anger fly out of our mouths in a flash? It takes practice and a growing awareness that God's carefully laid-out plans, not ours, are what matter. We also need to try and put ourselves in the shoes of the other person. If you worked in retail job or a position serving the public, you're already in that position.
We represent Jesus Christ, and we should be constantly aware that all those people we come in contact with during the day, even the difficult people, are the same folks he died for.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
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If we find ourselves having to wait for a table/waitress/service to long, get cut off on a busy street, or any other situation you may find yourself letting your emotions become dictated by either the actions of others or the overall circumstances of an event we become agitated, peeved, angry, stressed and/or upset. Some of us will say uncouth things under our breaths. Some of us will raise our voices in protest. Some of us will erect a certain finger that only conveys a singular, universal message.
The majority of us then read a newspaper, watch CNN, browse headlines on the internet. What do we see? Inconceivable amounts of tragedy in the world. Death, famine, disease, hunger, rape, etc. We shake our heads solemnly, contemplate for a moment how sad such a thing is and maybe say a prayer under our breaths or that night. But how much action do we really take?
We're running late for an "important" meeting and someone s driving 20 below the speed limit in front of us. We're verbally lashing out in our vehicles, possibly pushing the horn in defiance, and any other action that may convey our anger. Because maybe by doing one of those things we'll end up feeling better. Either by getting that driver to let us pass or just by blowing off steam. Imagine if more people in the world decided to take that instant action when it came to those real tragedies.
We can't let ourselves get wrapped up in the smallest, tiniest aspects of our lives. Our daily routines, our favorite places to eat, the clothes we shop for, the level of convenience we have day in and day out. Imagine an Israelite standing in line waiting to get baptized by John, tapping his foot against the dirt, arms folded across his chest, huffing as he belts out "I've been in this line for two hours. Don't they know I have sheep to tend to?"
In the end, it's as simple as not losing touch with what's really important in this world. Because if something is of no importance at all, why get upset in capacity over it? And with God on our side and a mission in our heats, how important can something like waiting for a table really be?