Flipping our focus
Sometimes when I’m on a FaceTime call with one of my grandkids, they want to check on CiCi (their grandmother, my wife). So I switch to the rearview camera on my phone. The focus is moved from my face and opened up to the room. Then we go find CiCi!
That picture came to mind a couple days ago as I listened to a story about two guys in a restaurant.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. –Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
The men had agreed to meet for breakfast. Once seated, they noticed the table was a mess. It had been wiped down, but apparently with a dishrag that had grease on it. After placing an order for coffee, one of the men politely asked the waitress if the table could be cleaned again.
The waitress sighed heavily, rolled her eyes, brought a wet rag and hastily wiped the table, splashing some water off the rag onto the two men. When she finished, she sarcastically asked, “Is that good enough for you?” Somewhat taken aback, they said it was fine and the waitress left to get their coffee.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. –Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
The men looked at one another, deciding on their next move. Should they just walk out? Ask to speak to the manager? Give the lady a piece of their mind? After all, the table was dirty. They’d done nothing to deserve such disrespect. They watched her continue about her duties. It was clear she wasn’t having a good day and the day was barely started. That’s when they hatched their plan.
By the time the waitress was back with the coffee, one of the men had a $20 bill in his hand. As she distractedly set the mugs down, he said, “Hey it looks like you’re having a rough morning. I’d like to go ahead and give you a tip now and let you know we’re praying for you.” Tears welled in her eyes and the hard lines of her countenance softened. As she wrote down their breakfast order, she nodded, smiled, and thanked the men, perhaps as much for the fact that they had actually SEEN HER as for the money. For the rest of their time in the restaurant, her demeanor was completely changed. She thanked them again when it was time to settle the check and leave.
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. –Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)
No big deal. One lady for one day. It would have been very easy for the two guys to “win” the moment that morning, to say or do something that would’ve made them feel clever and put a rude woman in her place. Instead, they chose to flip the focus from themselves and make the situation about blessing her. As a result, she witnessed the love of Christ.
God puts those opportunities before us fairly often. Seen in isolation, they seem rather insignificant. But the cumulative effect, for both the givers and the receivers of such grace, could have eternal consequence. What if we took more of those moments and flipped our focus?
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. –Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)