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"We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!" (1 Corinthians 13:12 MSG)
That Grumpy Guy at the Counter
The Sunday before last, following worship, my son Brandon and I went out for lunch. We drove to Arby's by Target. We don't usually go to that Arby's as it's not the closest one to our home. Still, we stopped in. And things DIDN'T look good right from the beginning. First, a worker behind the counter was handing a cup to a patron adding, "Sorry, I forgot your drink!" Then, another came up with an order for another patron stating, "Sorry about the wait!"
Still, before we were able to put our order in, a man in his mid-sixties or so approached the counter. "Uh Miss, could I speak to your manager?" Another man walked by me to pick up his order and almost bumped into me with his tray and said to the man, "Good luck!" A worried worker came over to the edge of the counter stating, "She'll be here in a minute, sir, she's really busy!" "That's okay, I'll wait!" he said, matter-of-factly.
I tried to talk my son into going to another restaurant... "It's not looking good!" "Settle!" Said my son (which is slang for "settle down, Dad!") So WE decided to stay... in spite of the scene.
I watched the man as he waited patiently. We put in our order; I wanted to see what he was going to say. "She'll be here in a minute," said another concerned worker to the man waiting at the counter.
We received our meal in short order. My son took the tray; I kept my pop cup and proceeded slowly to the soda fountain to fill my drink. I was curious as what the disgruntled patron was going to say; but after a while, I was forced to find a seat as it would have looked "nosey" to stand around waiting. I mean, I could only fill my pop so many times and sip on it before suspicion gave me away.
Meanwhile, my son had taken a seat in a booth on the other side of the room. I walked over and took my seat facing the serving counter. Two or three more times, a worker would tell the man, "The manager will be with your shortly, sir."
I sat facing him from the other side of the restaurant, wondering just what he was going to chew out the manager for! "She'll be right here!" Said yet another worker at the counter. It must have taken 5 minutes, maybe 10. It seemed like an hour to my "nosey self."
Finally, the manager came and I overheard just what a nearby worker said, "Sir, would you mind putting that in writing?" It seemed to be an inappropriate statement to be sure.
I still didn't get it! I saw the man leave through the restaurant doors; he opened them patiently for his wife - she was using a walker. Out to their car they went. "I sure wish I knew what he said....!" I said to my son.
Many of Christ's healings began with Jesus simply SEEING the need with the compassionate eyes of Christ. Jesus often responded without even being asked, simply because the love in the eyes of Christ prompted him to act.
Yes, the EYES of Christ often saw the malady and responded with sympathy, tenderness and understanding by initiating the forgiveness of sins and healing of the affliction. The eyes of Christ saw much misery and he responded with concern, mercy, and pity.
When he SAW the crowds, Jesus said, "I have compassion for them, for they are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd."
The eyes of Christ saw the same variety of beauty that our eyes see, but they also saw the same ugliness and violence our eyes see. The eyes of Christ saw the hatred and rejection of brothers and sisters for one another. Jesus recognized the cruelty that someone could unleash on someone else. His eyes discerned the dishonesty, deception and deceitfulness of people. They beheld the squalor and filthiness of the poor whom he loved. The eyes of Christ observed the selfishness and pride of the rich, and he loved them too.
Yet, the eyes of Christ were able to see beyond "Skin deep beauty" into the knowledge and the heart of God's love for each and every person ever created.
Jesus saw the sadness of it all when he saw what the soldiers were doing to him; as his garments lay at the foot of the cross, he asked God to forgive them, "for they know not what they do!"
Meanwhile, back at the Arby's restaurant, I was almost out of pop and as I got up from my table... sure enough just then, the man and his wife returned to the door of the restaurant and his wife headed to the restroom. He stood by the door waiting for her.
Since the soda fountain was close to the entrance, I approached the man, "I thought you were going to really give it to the manager?" I said, "Honestly, you have me curious - just what DID you say to the manager?" I asked... "Oh," he said, "I just told her how much I appreciated them working so hard so that my wife and I could enjoy our Sunday meal. I guess I may have chosen a bad time to tell her. It's so easy for people to take the service industry folks for granted and I wanted her to know we appreciated it."
I saw a glimpse of the Savior Sunday at an Arby's restaurant... last Sunday afternoon. For you see, "that Grumpy Guy at the Counter... was the risen Christ."
I hope you see as he saw, too!
Jesus said, "You who have sorrow now, I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR JOY FROM YOU!" John 16:22
As we are about to enter the week called Holy, may we see the Christ in others and may others see the Christ in us,
Rick Pittenger
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