Waiting Too Long

‘My friend, come up higher.’

We were sitting in a tourist town enjoying our lunch. The place was not fancy, but it had cold beer and good fish & chips. It was very busy and understaffed. Those who were on duty showed no enthusiasm for their task, and it showed in the (lack of) speed of their service and in their demeanor. It didn’t bother us (too much) since we had nowhere else to be.

Halfway thru our meal, a young lady sat down at the table next to us. From her wardrobe and appearance, she appeared well-to-do. After not being served promptly, as the rest of us had experienced, she looked over to us, and pleaded with her eyes, “Is this normal?” We quickly reassured her it was nothing personal, that the service here was abysmally slow.

Finally, after she finally spoke up to a server, she was able to order. But she had to ask a second time to get her drink. And still her food did not come. She was polite and did not cause a scene. She asked her server once more about her meal and received a non-committal answer. And still, her meal did not come. We became uncomfortable with the delay of her meal, and finally we grabbed the server and said, “she has been waiting far too long for her sandwich. When is it coming?” We received an embarrassed response, but within a short time, the meal finally arrived. The lady looked over, smiled, and said, “Thank you.”

Although my Google review did not specifically mention this incident, I was not flattering in my comments. Our service was atrocious, but hers was humiliating. Maybe it was because she was female. Maybe it was because she was alone at the table. Maybe it was because she was black.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus cautions me not to get too comfortable with my position or worldly comforts or self-image. And, I admit, I have much to be comfortable with. So, it is incumbent upon me to always remember that everything is a gift, and that gifts are to be shared.

In the book, Anam Cara, author John O’Donohue writes, “There is a lovely idea in Celtic tradition that if you send out goodness from yourself, or if you share that which is good or happy within you, it will all come back to you multiplied ten thousand times. In the kingdom of love there is no competition; there is no possessiveness or control.”

I am constantly reminded that if I see with the eyes of love, I will notice that there are so many people who need love to be shared with them. But do I still yearn for the most prestigious seat, or the biggest discount, or the quickest service? I continually re-learn that it is possible for me to be satisfied by seeing someone else being taken care of first. My turn will come. My reward is not incumbent on what I have, but what I give. Lord, help me to do better.

Every Day.

© 2025 by Timothy J. Doppel

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