This past Saturday I left the solace of paradise ( ie – beach vacation). Early in the morning we packed up the chairs, bathing suits, ice cream maker and the other beach necessities and headed home. On our way out of town we pulled in the drive thru at the local McDonald’s – which was, of course, quite busy.
As I whipped around to the drive thru lane, a pickup truck just beat me to the back of the line. I really didn’t think much about it until a few minutes later. After placing my order, I was sitting in the bend at the corner of the building. Each window had a car in front of it, and the aforementioned truck was still in front of me, not yet to the window. And there we waited. In terms of a McDonald’s drive thru it really wasn’t that long. I actually hadn’t even noticed the delay at this point, until I heard an obvious “c’mon’ shouted from a man near by.
My interest peaked, I tried to find the source of this hollering. A little while later, while we still waited for the line to move I heard another exoneration, from the same voice. I think it was “Let’s Go!” this time. And I realized it was the man in the truck in front of me letting his irrational with the delay be known throughout the parking lot.
About this time the line started moving, and as the man in his truck approached the window, I could hear something like this coming from his window.
“Hey, hey, hey” he shouted to the woman in the first window as he was still on approach. He continued ” I need to add another Sausage biscuit!, I gotta feed the dog”. I cannot express the urgency and frustration in his words.
“I gotta feed to the dog” he repeated.
Sure enough in the passenger seat of his F150, going back and forth was his apparently hungry companion. All of my companions had a hearty laugh.
It was an odd display, but one that stuck with we the rest of the day. You all have experienced long periods of interstate travel, and you know that some times there are traffic situations, slow cars, tailgating drivers, or some other patience testing opportunities waiting to be discovered. Well, on this day, each time I realized that I was becoming impatience, I would holler out.
“C’mon driver, I gotta feed the dog!”
And immediately, I would remember how ridiculous my impatience really was, and that a patience approach to the situation is so much better.
All of us find us in places where we are anxious, and stressed and impatience with others. Our times may not be as telling or out in the open as my drive thru partner, but each one usually ends the same way. His yelling and aggression did nothing to move the line any faster. Our impatience probably wont change the situation we are stressing over in any way.
Today, as you interact with others, if you feel yourself growing weary, remember that you have a dog to feed!
14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.1 Thessalonians 5:14 New International Version (NIV)
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love Ephesians 4:2 New Living Translation (©2007)