musings of the sick-in-bed

I am in my element here, ensconced on my bed with my computer propped before me on the box it came in; I call that my desk. A steaming cup of jasmine tea sits to my left in a cute, autumn-leaved mug, and the view out my window shows beautiful, yellowed maples.
I have been sick in bed and reading all morning. Joy! In high school I used to wish I would get sick so I could spend the whole day at home, in bed, reading. These days I do not wish for sickness because I do not get to stay home when I’m sick; instead, I trudge wearily off to work. I am in the food business so that should be a scary thought.
“Would you like whip cream on your mocha?” cough, cough!
The book I have found most interesting thus far today has been In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon. My bet is you’ve never even heard of it, let alone read it. It reminds me of The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne although unlike Revolution, it is a novel.
It’s about part of the congregation of a church in a city called Raymond who pledge to do nothing for a year without first asking, “What would Jesus do?” This is not part of the fad that flashed through our society about 15 years ago, and I do not think this book is the reason that fad started. It is simply meant as an unpretentious awareness of who our Savior is and how He would behave were he, say, a business man, a rich young heiress, the editor of a prominent newspaper, etc. Each person is to act in accordance to what they believe Jesus would do in their personal situations without holding anyone else up to their personal standards so as to keep people from becoming judgmental. The pastor may be the only exception as it is his job to teach and exhort the way he believes Jesus would, meaning he must point out hypocrisy and preach against the local saloon.
I just looked up the word “saloon” to make sure I was not getting the meaning of that word wrong. This book was written in the late 1800s and some of the culture from then compares very differently from the present time. I think that a saloon of that time is where men congregated to drink and gamble.
I’m not very fond of gambling, though I admit I have gambled. As for drinking… I am frequently found with a glass of wine or a pint of beer in-hand. I never get drunk, but I do drink. I don’t see that as a sin so every time I read these parts of the book, I find myself cringing a little bit.
There is one young lady in this story who has “a fortune in her throat”, in other words, she can sing and is expected to make a career out of it. Within the first couple weeks of making the pledge, she denies the offers of two prestigious musical companies and announces to her mom that she’s going to sing for the White Cross meetings downtown. Because of her voice, people begin to flock to the meetings. Because of the message and the Holy Spirit, people begin to give their lives to Christ.
Books such as these make me think about my life and make me want to live in accordance to what I believe Jesus would do with my life. But I always feel like I’m on hold and have to wait until I have more time or money. Still, I have asked myself frequently over the past couple years, “What can I do now?”
One change that has taken place is my work ethic. I used to be a very inconsistent worker, both in what I accomplished and in my attitude. True, I cannot deny that I have different moods that are going to change the way I behave, but it does not have to be a critical difference. I decided that my moods were no longer going to effect how hard I worked or how I treated people at work, and I think I have done a fairly good job at this. I come to work to work now, not to make money. I am there to be a servant of the people I work for and with. I have become more consistent about asking, “Is there anything you wish I would do before I leave?” or “Is there anything I could be doing for you right now?” It’s the consistency that’s important; as my coworkers become accustomed to my asking this, they begin to realize that I mean it and that they really can ask me to do whatever it is that’s on their minds.
Another change I mentioned in a recent blog. I do my best to avoid being judgmental of the people around me. This one is especially difficult as the people around me are constantly complaining about this customer or that coworker. I admit, I have failed at this much more than I would like. But a huge change has recently transpired that I have noticed and wondered at. I love people!! I am amazed at how interested I am in every person who walks through the door at Bella Café.
This week a man came limping in, using his umbrella as a cane, wearing a very long, black raincoat and looking disheveled and nearly homeless. He piqued my curiosity immediately and, fortunately, was easy to get talking. He spoke of being forced into time off from work for disability because someone had hit him while he was crossing a street in the crosswalk. After a bit, he told me he’d just been over to a local restaurant and been treated like… poop. He spat the word like he was saying the more popular curse word. He was not treated like poop at Bella and even my coworker seemed to enjoy his visit.
We have customers who won’t talk to us, customers who won’t stop talking to us, customers who mispronounce their beverage, customers who never tip, and I find every one of them intriguing. And lovable! When did that happen?
But I want to do things outside of work as well. I want to learn to listen better. I want to learn to judge less. I want to serve more often at the Union Gospel Mission. I want to talk to more people on the streets (carefully, very carefully. But fearlessly!). I want to make wise decisions regarding men who are interested in me and who are not Christians.
Will you share with me, please, ways in which you have seen Christ molding you to the standard, “What would Jesus do?” I am so interested in knowing where God has been teaching and changing people.
And I would like to challenge you to read one, if not both, of these books, if you have not already. They’re worth it, I promise!
I forgot to finish my tea! Haha!