You’re Welcome
When I came to Troas to proclaim the good news of Christ, a door was opened for me. – 2 Corinthians 2:12 (NRSV)
I was in a hurry to get in and out of the grocery store but, sensing someone close behind me, I stepped aside and held the door open for them. They passed through without saying a word and I snarked to the back of their head, “You’re welcome!”
By then, another person was at the door, and I held it open for them too. That person said thanks while slowly shaking their head as if disapproving. I nodded in agreement, went about my shopping, and hurried back to my car.
As I drove home, I thought about how people are getting ruder with each passing day. Then I noticed how bad I was feeling … about me. Why?
I had done unto another as I would have them do unto me and had extended kindness but had received no kindness in return. But did the person for whom I held the door open owe me a reaction? Did I do a good deed to help them, or to feel good about myself? Was the person who followed shaking their head because the first person was so rude to me or because I had been so rude to that person? I had held a store door open for someone who had also held a door open for me to better understand myself. I didn’t thank them either. But I do now.
Prayer
Eternal God, thank you for helping us to do the next right thing for the sake of doing the next right thing. Period. Amen.
About the AuthorDwight Lee Wolter is pastor of the Congregational Church of Patchogue on Long Island, New York, and the author of several books including The Gospel of Loneliness (The Pilgrim Press).