My Time
I went to Wal-Mart today to pick up some ink for my printer. I always like to use the self-checkout partly because it is quicker to check out on my own and partly because I like to play with the machine. Anyway, it was rather busy, so I had to wait behind 5 or 6 people. Most of these individuals had only 1 or 2 items also.
It wasn't long before I noticed that the couple in front of me (approximately late 50's) were not the patient kind. They were purchasing a Crock Pot. While waiting in line the clerk came by and had to reload the machine with cash which took less than 2 minutes. All the while the lady was sighing and huffing very loudly so as to show her impatience.
The clerk got the machine running and the next person began to ring out. This young man had an item that didn't want to ring up so the red light on the machine started to flash indicating a need for help.
Well, needless to say the woman was now acting out even more, pacing back and forth, sighing even louder, and mumbling something to her husband. After a minute or two with no help in sight the young man left the item on the counter and walked away, no doubt, in response to this woman's actions.
Finally the last person before them rang out and it went off without a hitch.
Then it was their turn. First of all the husband begins by ringing the item out, and then immediately trying to cram a $20 bill in the slot to pay. Not once did he read the on screen instructions and press the necessary buttons. When all was said and done he took longer than the 2 people before him combined.
In all of this I was struck by some irony. First these people were buying a crock pot (slow cooker) which I thought was funny considering their impatience. Second when leaving they walked slowly out of the store, so slow in fact that I checked out and passed them walking to my car which just happened to be right next to their truck.
So what was the hurry? Why do we get so impatient waiting in line at the store, even when we have nowhere to go? We're all guilty of this.
I think it has something to do with it being "our time." We want to use "our time" the way "we" see fit. We don't stop to take into account that God may have us here in this line for a reason. I know this sounds simplistic but is it really? I think the way we handle ourselves in line at the store speaks more about our character than how we act at church.
I am in the last 2 days of jury duty this week. I have only been called to the courthouse 2 times and both times I did nothing but sit and wait for several hours and go home. When I found that I had to go into the courthouse this morning I was irritated. I have to much to do to sit there in that room.
My outlook changed however when I went to check in upon arriving and the clerk asked me what I did for a living and I told him I was a pastor. He asked me where and I told him and he said "That's not far from where I live. Do you have a card?" I gave him a card and chatted for a few minutes. About an hour later he called me back up and asked me if I had another card because he was telling a co-worker about the church and she wanted a card too.
Here is a great example fo what I mean. I saw "my time" in the office preparing for Sunday as valuable and any of that time spent in the courthouse as being a loss. God showed me however, that it is all His time and He had a predetermined course for me that I would not have chosen on my own.
Psalm 46:10 says "Be still and know that I am God." That command is important because unless our heart and mind are stilled before God we often do not see Him working and in turn we do not have a chance to know Him.
Just my thoughts for this day.
God bless,
Pastor Duane
It wasn't long before I noticed that the couple in front of me (approximately late 50's) were not the patient kind. They were purchasing a Crock Pot. While waiting in line the clerk came by and had to reload the machine with cash which took less than 2 minutes. All the while the lady was sighing and huffing very loudly so as to show her impatience.
The clerk got the machine running and the next person began to ring out. This young man had an item that didn't want to ring up so the red light on the machine started to flash indicating a need for help.
Well, needless to say the woman was now acting out even more, pacing back and forth, sighing even louder, and mumbling something to her husband. After a minute or two with no help in sight the young man left the item on the counter and walked away, no doubt, in response to this woman's actions.
Finally the last person before them rang out and it went off without a hitch.
Then it was their turn. First of all the husband begins by ringing the item out, and then immediately trying to cram a $20 bill in the slot to pay. Not once did he read the on screen instructions and press the necessary buttons. When all was said and done he took longer than the 2 people before him combined.
In all of this I was struck by some irony. First these people were buying a crock pot (slow cooker) which I thought was funny considering their impatience. Second when leaving they walked slowly out of the store, so slow in fact that I checked out and passed them walking to my car which just happened to be right next to their truck.
So what was the hurry? Why do we get so impatient waiting in line at the store, even when we have nowhere to go? We're all guilty of this.
I think it has something to do with it being "our time." We want to use "our time" the way "we" see fit. We don't stop to take into account that God may have us here in this line for a reason. I know this sounds simplistic but is it really? I think the way we handle ourselves in line at the store speaks more about our character than how we act at church.
I am in the last 2 days of jury duty this week. I have only been called to the courthouse 2 times and both times I did nothing but sit and wait for several hours and go home. When I found that I had to go into the courthouse this morning I was irritated. I have to much to do to sit there in that room.
My outlook changed however when I went to check in upon arriving and the clerk asked me what I did for a living and I told him I was a pastor. He asked me where and I told him and he said "That's not far from where I live. Do you have a card?" I gave him a card and chatted for a few minutes. About an hour later he called me back up and asked me if I had another card because he was telling a co-worker about the church and she wanted a card too.
Here is a great example fo what I mean. I saw "my time" in the office preparing for Sunday as valuable and any of that time spent in the courthouse as being a loss. God showed me however, that it is all His time and He had a predetermined course for me that I would not have chosen on my own.
Psalm 46:10 says "Be still and know that I am God." That command is important because unless our heart and mind are stilled before God we often do not see Him working and in turn we do not have a chance to know Him.
Just my thoughts for this day.
God bless,
Pastor Duane
posted by Duane @ 2:08 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home