Today, I have an interview for a part-time internship that I would love to get. I am excited about it, but right now, also feeling a bit bummed. Here’s what happened:
I went to Kinko’s to print my resume from my computer. When I sat down at the laptop station, I noticed the gentleman in the station next to me writing something on paper. No computer.
As I set things up, my neighbor peered over to see what I was doing, and then looked at a lady behind us. He excused himself for interrupting her and asked her for advice on how to write a resume. From his accent, he was clearly from another country.
“I just moved here, and I’m trying to get a job in this area.”
The lady kindly, but distantly, suggested that he search Google for help on making a resume. He asked her if she would do it and print it out for her, but she replied that it would cost her money to print. He asserted that he would pay her back, but she finished her business and made the computer available to him.
I felt a little guilty, sitting there with a resume on the screen, fully capable to advise this man. I decided that I would complete my work and then come to his rescue. I was already picturing what I would say to him and how I would say it.
It was then that little things started going wrong. Plugging in the provided USB cable didn’t work. So, I asked a staff member, and he had me install some software from a CD. That didn’t work either. I dug around in my computer’s setup, and there was no logical reason why these things were happening.
Then the Kinko’s man bailed me out. He had me put the file on his USB drive, and he printed the resume from it — free of charge, not couple of dollars it should’ve cost me. Thankfully, someone went out of their way to help me. Now it was my turn.
But he was gone.
A man sat at a Kinko’s hoping that someone would take the few minutes to help him help himself and possibly his family. He even reached out. I saw it all take place. I chose to take care of my own business first, although time was no issue, and he left. Dejected, angry, hopeless — I don’t know.
I had the chance to show love. I chose to do it on my own terms. I was wrong.
When the opportunity arises and the Spirit prompts, please obey. Don’t put off the joy of sharing God’s love with someone. It’s not cool at all. [-15 cool points]
(photo: SOCIALisBETTER)
sigh. been there, done that. i hate what i KNOW you are experiencing right now because of that situation. sad for you, sad for him.
i know you want to take points away. but i wouldnt, so much, it takes a lot of humility to share what you shared. I AM NOT JUSTIFYING, but…you are under a lot of pressure and i have a feeling, under “normal” circumstances, you wouldn’t have responded that way.
praying for you this morning…
Oh, Cool Dad, that stinks. I agree with Tam – it DOES take humility to share that, so openly, with us. Honestly, there have been times when I couldn’t even admit to myself how I’d missed an opportunity to show love. So, I know how you feel, unfortunately.
But I imagine God sees how you feel and will give you another opportunity! After all, there are bajillions of people in NYC – I bet you’ll touch at least a few million while you’re there!
Hang in there. Cool Family is doing good stuff.
I’m thinking of you guys this morning. On my way in to work, I wondered what it’s like to be in NYC on September 11…
wow, that was powerful and I know I’ve certainly been there and tried to do things on my terms as well and had an inkling that I shouldn’t have waited.
tam – you are always so gracious to us.
pq – thanks for thinking of us. you’re a blessing.
sam – yeah, it happens to all of us. i really want to learn the lesson just once, if possible. well, too late for that, but it would be nice to pick up on it this time.
Thanks for sharing. No sugar coating added. Your admission that you could have done your stuff later reminds me or a scene from Saving Private Ryan – the one where the medic talks about pretending to be asleep when his mom got home. He said at the end – I don’t know why I did that…
May you (we) continue to become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit moving us and responsive to His leading. Thanks for such a great post.