It was an ordinary Sunday morning. My day off to-do list was simple really. Fill out a prescription, then gather the items for a family birthday dinner, then hit the road to enjoy family time. How hard could it be? Plenty.
I sat in the drive-through for five minutes. Is it open? The online app said it was and yet the window is vacant. I wait longer and decide to go inside to fill my prescription. As soon as I circle around, park my car, and walk inside, the situation I found there was no better. People line the perimeter waiting for test results (…is that safe?) After waiting through a long line at the pharmacy and when I’m almost to the counter, she turns to help the drive-through customers (which would be me…if I had just been patient enough to hold my ground). I wait another 30 minutes until I get checked out and on my way.
Good, the grocery store didn’t look crowded. As I snaked through the aisles I kept dodging carts piled up front. Finally, I finished shopping with my cart overflowing, I search for the quickest lane out. There is no lane. No checkers are present, just self-service. The lines back up twenty deep. As I make my way to the end of the line, I am curious as to how other people are reacting to the inconvenience. I’m the only one that seems mad. People were quiet and glassy-eyed. I was ticked. Finally, I approached the check stand to begin my purchase. Quickly I realize I’m in trouble, I have an entire cart to check out…but yet space only for four small bags on the circular bag holder. Once the 4 bags were full, I begin stacking my checked items in a mountain-like structure. I stacked, the round groceries roll off and across the floor. The ice cream, the TP, they roll. I fetch. This continues until the mountain teeters on top. I nervously attempt to pay my bill. The next grocery avalanche will be a big one. The check stand beeps alert for the clerk. I wait for the one clerk serving six check stands. I need permission to check out more than 50 items, really? The screen flashes: I bought too many items and I need a clerk’s approval. Of course, I bought too many items-this is the fast check lane and I have over 50 items. I was irritated and the clerk knew it. She approved the sale, smiled wanly, and made a hasty retreat. Why was I so mad? It’s because I wanted the world to go back to normal. I wanted to run my two errands quickly to get back to my life and my family.
I explain my dilemma on the way home to a friend. She laughs, “Casey, I’m not surprised; it’s been this way for months.” OK, so I’m late to this party. The world changed despite my expectations of staying the same. There is no point in being mad. My old way of doing things is gone, but not forgotten. Instead of wishing unpleasant circumstances away, I focus on what I can control. I can control where I shop, when I shop, and with whom. Phil 4:8 “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
What is true? I must keep in the forefront of my mind what is exactly true. It is the holy words of scripture pointing me back to a God who loves me and sees me. The state of affairs in the world is changing at lightning speed, so fast we can barely comprehend them all. It is scary and beyond our control. What is in my control is how I respond. By focusing on what is honorable and admirable, I take the high road. As I look to my Heavenly Father, waiting and smiling at me, I learn taking the high road is what’s best for me.
As I walk out of the grocery store, I wondered if they were filming an episode of Candid Camera. It would have made a great episode. Who knew ice cream could roll that fast?