COMMUNITY
I was spreading ink above the light green lines on my yellow legal pad of paper in a quaint restaurant in our community when I heard, “I’m so sorry to bother you, but I have a huge favor to ask you,” she said warmly, lowering her head between her shoulders slightly with an awkward and genuine smile.It was out of the norm for the manager of my favorite writing restaurant to be asking me questions outside the normal, “How was your meal today?”, type of ones. I’m a regular and with enough time, in this case, a couple of years, folks get to know each other in their community.
Most of the employees at the friendly neighborhood restaurant I know by name and vice versa. We know things about each other; marital status, kids, and occupation type of information.
“I know you’re a contractor and I was hoping you could take a look at a problem we’re having in our kitchen?” she asked.
“Sure,” I answered, set my favorite pen down and followed her into the guts of the french style eatery. Things always look different from the inside out, not nearly as orderly as you’d think. The computerized meal ticket screen that tells the chefs what to cook, right smack next to the searing heat lamps, was mounted too high for the vertically challenged chefs to reach and respond.
The mounting bracket had three massive screws in the clamp part of the bracket and someone had almost completely stripped the soft chrome screws. I stood on the chair that the person before me who had failed stood to assess the problem in the sweltering kitchen… This at the place where I go when I get the rare down time to get some writing done…
“You gotta screwdriver?” I asked the manager.
“Sure!” she said enthusiastically and disappeared. She reappeared a long few minutes later and handed me a tiny phillips head screwdriver.
“That’s why the screws are stripped,” I told her, “Do you have a regular slotted screwdriver?” I asked.
“Sure!” she answered and vanished again.
“She put you to work, huh?” some of the employees asked chuckling.
“I’m workin’ off my meal,” I told them.
The manager showed back up with what looked like a toy screwdriver, “That’s not big enough – It needs to be a wide and thicker head… let me check my truck,” I told her with little hope of having the proper tools that I try not to carry anymore…
I fished out a dusty slotted screwdriver that was about half the size I needed out of my driver’s side door compartment. By the time I wrestled the damaged screws loose enough with my undersized screwdriver to slide the monitor down, the heat lamps had me cooking like a Thanksgiving turkey. The manager graciously handed me a towel to dry myself off with.
“Thank you so much!” the manager said as I was leaving the kitchen, “Your next meal is on us!” she added.
Community isn’t always convenient. I suppose if I kept to myself and was short and grouchy with the folks I see often they’d never bother me by asking for help. But that’s not what we’re called to or designed for, not to mention the gratification that comes from helping others, even if in small ways, we’d be missing out on.
When I got back to my table I spotted my pen sitting on the floor underneath the not perfectly level table. I picked it up and noticed the delicate tip smashed sideways…
I’m not sayin’ community is always convenient…
Sunday, September 6, 2015 @ 1:47 pm
I just love these real life stories. It’s a testimony to your consistent friendliness that they knew you were a safe person to ask for help. You make the world (including our restaurants now!) a better place.
Sunday, September 6, 2015 @ 2:07 pm
Yep. Sometimes community just downright stinks. π But you showed what real community is all about Floyd. You went out of your way to help. “Bear one another’s burdens…” Real live example you are.
Sunday, September 6, 2015 @ 6:34 pm
I ditto Lisa and Bill, Cycle Guy! I would expect nothing less of you, Floyd! And I’m so sorry about your favorite pen though…sigh…
Sunday, September 6, 2015 @ 7:18 pm
Ha ha ha ha! Made me chuckle! No community is NOT always convenient. We have a similar story///Went into our favorite Applebees. the wait staff was taking orders by hand and apologized that orders would probably take longer than usual. Of course, my husband inquired. Computer problems and they would’t have a tech our there for 2 days. The manager sounded so desperate because it was a 3-day holiday weekend. People were already leaving. She described what was occurring. Both Randy and my son-in-law do this stuff for a living. Randy has worked in restaurant kitchens with their computerized order-ticketing system. So, off they went. They had to trace cabling, find the problem, effect a repair, talk to a network, send some commands. I waited at the table. After about 15 minutes I heard a HUGE “Hurray!!” from the kitchen. They were back in business! The guys had to wash up. Their shirts were were a little dirty and one of their shirts got torn. Oh well. Our food was free!
Sunday, September 6, 2015 @ 7:24 pm
Community is not always convenient, but it’s worth it, huh? Fun glimpse into your writing haven. “Haven”? π
Mine is a coffee shop nearby.
Re your comment on my post “The Call On Line Two,” we’re all doing better now. Thank you for praying, Floyd. I appreciate that.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Sunday, September 6, 2015 @ 9:54 pm
This was a God moment showing community to help a friend (group of friends) in need. I can imagine the frustration with the heat producing sweat and the tools not the best, but adequate. Your presence was a blessing and they all were grateful. Inconvenient yes, but neither was it convenient for Jesus during his ministry to help others – – and his final act on earth. All given willingly.
Sorry about your favorite pen being destroyed. although that was a sad moment, I do know it will NOT keep you from lending another helping hand when the occasion arises. You are a blessing to many, and to us as you share your stories.
Monday, September 7, 2015 @ 10:59 pm
Thank you for sharing your awesome post with us here at βTell Me a Story.β http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Sunday, September 6, 2015 @ 9:54 pm
Floyd, you definitely have a heart of gold. The fact that people feel comfortable enough to ask you for such favors speaks for how kind they know you to be. May God bless you for all you do and for minding Him to share your heart with us here.
Monday, September 7, 2015 @ 7:25 am
Take heart, my friend, you’re building up a treasure in heaven. The worth of which far surpasses what we might gain by our “good deeds” here on earth π
Monday, September 7, 2015 @ 12:45 pm
Floyd, thank you for once again giving me a good chuckle, and great food for thought! Community isn’t always convenient – that’s perfect! But, when Jesus calls us to follow Him, He also calls us to be servants. And serving doesn’t always happen when we want it to. Also, He asks us to give – not just our money, but our time and our listening ears and our homes, and a host of other things that we sometimes forget do not really *belong* to us.
WWJD – remember that? What would Jesus do? Well, though it was a fad for awhile, I think it’s a really good faith directive. I think Jesus spent His life doing all sorts of inconvenient things. I think He must have constantly been surrounded by people wanting something from Him. I think the incessant and persistent demands made on His time must have been exhausting. But, is there any better example of the perfect Servant than Him?!
It’s better to give than receive.
And though you lost a pen in the process, I think you got the *bigger lesson* loud and clear.
Love the way you write, Floyd. Always.
GOD BLESS!
Monday, September 7, 2015 @ 3:17 pm
That was a great story, Floyd. One of the things I love about your writing is how you inspire others to share their own stories. It was fun to read Nancy’s story as well. I agree that community isn’t convenient, but isn’t it rich? Knowing you, I’m sure you got great joy out of being able to help – plus I guess you still got some inspiration for writing. π Glad we were able to share in it1
Monday, September 7, 2015 @ 5:31 pm
So community isn’t always convenient? Lol, so true Floyd and you will have earned that next meal, make it a good one. Love this story though and pray I can be as willing to help someone instead of brushing them off or pretending not to hear. β₯
Tuesday, September 8, 2015 @ 8:26 pm
Your story reminds me of Josh Wilson’s song, “I Refuse.” I often think about the sacrifice of time it takes to reach out and the willingness to get involved not always knowing what we will face. I guess that’s what makes it an adventure.
Hey, what’s it with you guys who favor public places to write? I was in Bookmanβs in Flag last week having coffee at the coffee bar when I noticed a distinguished looking gent, 40-ish, gray hair pulled neatly in a pony tail, artsy looking. I guessed a professor maybe? But he had no resources not even coffee, just a yellow legal pad, pen and 7 yellow wads of crumbled words in the corner of a clean table. A frustrated writer, I thought! I did not approach him. (Maybe if he was asked to fix something….the words would come.)
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 @ 10:01 am
Floyd,
Thank you for being yourself and being willing to help, even when it is inconvenient and it makes you sweat….you inspire me π
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 @ 2:37 pm
This made me chuckle because most people know who to go to for help and your character screams, “hey I will help you”. I have a husband like that. I cannot tell how many times he has had people at gas stations ask for money for gas. The Papua New Guineans living close to us all came to Ace when they needed something. He drips in mercy and kindness. Bless you Floyd, bless you brother.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 @ 3:40 pm
Thank you for sharing. You always break into a lot of hearts with special info, special thinking. Bless you, Bro.
Thursday, September 10, 2015 @ 4:57 pm
I only wish that people knew me like that in my community. But I guess I’m kinda good for nothing…lol lol.
What good am I? | WORD!
Thursday, September 10, 2015 @ 5:40 pm
[…] In this case it was over at Floyd’s blog here. […]