Servanthood and all that...

Over the last few years I have noticed that I am becoming someone who cannot help but speak up when there is an injustice.  And the more injustice I see, the more passion I feel to help make things right.

I was shopping at ALDI yesterday, and while in the cue, loading a whole trolley full of groceries onto the unusually long conveyer belt; a young boy, between 18-21 years old, asked me if he could have the place in front of me as he only had a few items.

Now, I have to say, I find this logic confusing in any event!  I could no more ask someone if I could go before them in a cue, than I could ask them to pay for my shopping!  And I do wonder what our world is coming to if a young man of able body sees it fit to ask a mother with a trolly full of food to wait for him.

All of this passed through my mind in a split second, and I answered him, 'yes,' and I must have not looked convinced of him being in dire need of early relief, because he apologetically replied, ' oh thank you...'

As I stood there with this kid in front of me, with his box of wine bottles I said to myself, 'why did you say yes then if you're now cross about him being let in?' and I suppose my answer is, that when confronted with this odd request, I didn't want to seem rude.  In our culture we are supposed to pick up a coin for a stranger and hand it to them, hold a door for the person behind, and apologise to the one who bumps into you!  Because the aim is to show servanthood, and to avoid unpleasantness.  And you know what?  I like it that way.  I like to be polite, so that's why I said yes.

But I still felt the twinge of injustice, somewhere between my lungs and my belly... it didn't help when I noticed him adding family members to the place in front of me, and even some more shopping!  I thought, I could not let him go without a quiet word...  So as he thanked me politely and turned to walk away - with seemingly growing family members, and grocery items - I let the serge adrenalin give me the courage to just say, "remember, that by asking to go before me, you're kind of saying that your time is more valuable then mine, and I don't think that's right."

Well, he didn't know what to do, or say; and so he just agreed in that non committal way and got the hell out of there!  It was kind of sweet, in that not really sort of way!  I wasn't cross with him, but I did want him to know that I thought it was impolite.  And to make him think maybe next time about servanthood and all that...

So you see, I cannot seem to help it, I must speak up when I see injustice!  And not just for me - but for anyone I see badly treated.  I don't seem to be able to harness my passion for righteousness in this beautiful world, and I have a feeling I am just getting started...

Your thoughts..?

Shell xx