really?

i was about 20 minutes later than usual as i walked into the venue for my weekly thursday lunch meeting.

as i came near the door, i realized why we meet at 11:15, and not 11:30.

instead of walking right up to the counter and ordering, i stood in the open door where the line of around 40 hungry patrons met me.

as i stood and waited the line crawled toward the registers.  i heard the door open behind me, and 5 ladies came in.  they were laughing and using their outside voices as the walked right past me and joined their comrades in line.  i was unhappy.

less than 2 minutes later another young man walked in feeling no need to conclude his bluetooth conversation, also joining the crowd in line ahead of me—and i was not the last person in line.

there were about a half dozen of us being passed over.

when the door opened again and two more ladies came in and pushed their way to the middle of the line i pushed out a sigh.

i guess the guy standing directly in front of me heard it, because he turned around, looked at me, and kindly said, “would you like to go ahead of us?  i know that several of us just stepped in line in front of you.”

immediately i became very self aware.

i realized that the frustration of being passed over in line had caused me to become resentful and angry.  i deserved to be treated better than that.  i deserved a little respect or at least acknowledgement.

…and then i realized that i had missed my opportunity.

it was a small opportunity, but it was an opportunity none the less.

when i could have shown them the deference and kindness of Christ, i showed them the frustration and impatience of alex.

i smiled at the man who had offered to let me go ahead of them and i said, “no thank you.  i think i just need to learn a little patience.”

and i waited in line.

and i ordered my lunch.

and the world went on as it had every thursday before.

 

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