INSANITY
“Two!” I stated confidently as we approached the decadent desk at the front of the restaurant. The girl who I’m sure was in high school replied with a superior attitude, “Do you have reservations?” “No,” my wife and I said in unison as I eyeballed the posh dining area… Yep, it was full… In the summer in Arizona?
It’s one of the upscale seafood restaurants in North Scottsdale we try to go to once or twice a year. I have to admit, although over the top, it has great food… but priced like real estate…
A guy who looked to be in his twenties that was also standing behind the grand furniture chimed in, “The tables should be moving pretty fast if you could wait saaaaay, thirty minutes?” He was actually trying, that mixed with all my years of being too impatient to wait for a table… and too unorganized to plan ahead… I thought it better to show my wife I’m a different guy… Patient… Easy going… Roll with the flow kinda guy… you know, the one you’re not convinced I am… and neither am I…
We looked at one another and shrugged, “Sure – we’ll wait.” The grand reception area conveniently didn’t have any seating… “If you’ll just wait in the lounge, we’ll come and seat you as soon as we can.” I held onto my wallet as we ventured in. We stood looking for a place to sit in the busier than anticipated place and were lucky enough to be standing next to a table where a couple was getting up to leave.
We ordered an appetizer while we waited and watched. As we watched the area around the bar, it was like a show, “They’re regulars!” I informed my wife who’d already figured that out. As we continued to eat and watch I observed, “It’s like the TV show, Cheers – in an upscale setting!”
It wasn’t a young crowd, I noticed most of the people were older than us as we watched the real life drama unfold. As we watched it became obvious that all the players in the real-life drama had one thing in common; loneliness. I get that… but these people who’ve yet to find something to fill the void of loneliness in their lives are still trying to find it in the same type of places that have yet to work for them… Insanity.
As we watched the setting I pondered how most of us, even as Christians, do similar things; try to use the same actions over and over in an attempt to improve our lives and end up with the same failed results, yet still try in a vain attempt to make work what is impossible…
After about forty-five minutes, I paid the bill and got up to leave, “I’m sorry sir, we forgot about you guys!” – “We can seat you now?” the girl said apologetically. I smiled, “Naw – we’re good. Thanks.” I remember a life on that merry-go-round… The thought of it kind of steals an appetite… And makes me appreciate God’s gift of a little wisdom…
And a wonderful wife…
Dan Black
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 11:11 pm
I really like the quote, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting the same results.” This was the first thing I thought about after reading the title. A lot of people are doing the same thing and wonder why they are not getting different results/better results. It’s about being willing to grow and change into the person God wants us to become and to stop being so Insane:)
It sounds like you had a good time people watching and observing others behaviors.
Great post!
Floyd
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 3:08 pm
Thanks Dan. I’m like you, I truly enjoy people watching. I think maybe all of us spend a little time in the “insanity” phase. I think only God can deliver us from the insanity of this world. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom… acknowledging His omnipotence is step one…
bill (cycleguy)
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 1:57 am
Unfortunately this is happening more and more frequently. It is like the old song says, “Looking for love in all the wrong places.” People are looking for fulfillment and companionship in all the wrong places. Glad you have a patient wife. 🙂
Floyd
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 3:09 pm
Thanks Bill! Yeah, we had some tuna tartar as I recall… It doesn’t take much to make her happy! And yeah… I’m that good a guy! Kidding!
Jay Cookingham
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 5:20 am
Bro’….you went upscale on us? Can we still be friends? LOL! Anyways, it’s amazing…people desire community and will try to fill that void over and over until they find something that fits or worse…they settle for something less. It gives us an opportunity to live out our walk and show folks that they only real “community” is with Father God. Good insight bro’…thanks for sharing!
Floyd
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 3:11 pm
Thanks Jay. Yeah, every now and again I’ll wear something besides a sweatshirt… I didn’t say I like it! Oh, by the way… my wife buys my dress clothes… and orders the appetizer…!
Good call, Jay. Any community outside of God is in the process of failing… Thanks for the reminder.
April
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 6:48 am
I love the quote “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting the same results.” because it so aptly describe people I have come up against and even me from time to time.
Floyd
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 3:12 pm
Thanks April! I fall into insanity if I don’t keep my eyes on the Prize. It’s easy to fall into the flesh and the insanity of it. Only through the eyes of faith can we see His truth.
tcavey
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 8:20 am
As a youth, our pastor used this definition of insanity to help illustrate how our actions can really hinder our own progress in life.
Thanks for reminding me of it.
I’ve had a similar experience in a rest before. Glad you got an appetizer as you waited!
I like to people watch too.
Floyd
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 3:14 pm
Thanks TC. Somehow I knew that you were a people watcher! Often it’s amusing, sometimes it’s a sad spectacle.. It was that night.
tcavey
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 5:33 pm
Yeah, I can enjoy people watching better than going to the movies (which I actually severely dislike going to the movies so that’s really not saying much).
But anyway, sometimes I get a real kick out of watching people, and other times it is sad. All I can do is count my blessings and pray for them.
Floyd
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 6:51 pm
I hear you, TC. I usually tend to be cynical about people, but that’s changing with wisdom… albeit very slowly…
Nancy
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 10:40 am
Good Morning Floyd! Randy and I are people-watchers, that’s for sure! Often when we camp in the Foothills, we go up the hill to the Jackson Rancheria’s restaurant, at least once. They are doing some remodeling on a large scale and we found that we could not circumvent walking directly through the gaming part of the casino to get to the food. I could barely breathe! We had to meander here and there. During the trek, we were able to observe a multitude of slot machine players. Those faces…those faces…. Some hopeful, some intense, some sad, but many just empty! It sure made me glad that I know my SOURCE.
Eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand with. That is what you have for sure! So sweet ( wise) of you to acknowledge your honey too. One of the very best gifts is a Godly spouse! Thanks for sharing! Loved how you put it all together!
Floyd
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 3:18 pm
Thanks Nancy. I think I am the epitome of the old adage, “Behind every good man there’s a good woman.” I lived a life of insanity before… It doesn’t seem like it when you are trapped on the merry go round. God is grace and mercy… I’m thankful for the opening of my eyes…
I know you too are a people watcher. You and Randy are the only people I know that carry things for homeless people with you in anticipation of meeting them… That makes you guys the best kind of “people watchers.”
Jason Stasyszen
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 11:58 am
Nice restaurants are good every once in a while! They can’t fulfill us like anything else because we weren’t made for simply for this world. We can try to shove all those thoughts out of our heads and be as happy as we can, but that nagging feeling is still there and surfaces. We have to respond to eternal love and compassion! Thanks Floyd.
Floyd
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 3:27 pm
Great call, Jason. That really is the problem in our society. Not enough people know God to know that we are no longer subject to the instincts of the flesh. We now have the Power over it. The strength to live above the inclinations of the flesh… The senses are blinding, deafening, misleading, and numbing. Thanks for the insight!
Hazel Moon
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 5:21 pm
We seldom eat out (except fast food on occasion) but when we do, there is usually a sign up stand and they call you. The clerk who depended on her memory was not doing a good job. The appetizer probably was all the food you needed at the moment. Hope you took your wife out for desert and coffee at a near by place.
Even Christians seek for more mening in church groups, churches in general and their spiritual life. I miss the upbeat praise and worship services, but for now I am where God wants me. I did go to the Dr today and have a stress test tomorrow.
Floyd
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 6:50 pm
Thanks Hazel. We did have enough, we usually take our leftovers home for our little one. She eats more than the both of us! We all want to be wanted I guess. Good point, Hazel. Praying for you and your test tomorrow.
Voni Harris
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 9:53 pm
Your date night memories of this will be better than the meal would’ve been, anyway. 🙂 It’s hard to tell someone with a hole in their life that the restaurant lounge (or fill in the blank with whatever) that only Jesus can fill it. You made me think about all the things I tried over and over…before I found Christ to fill my own hole.
Floyd
Thursday, September 20, 2012 @ 8:39 am
Thanks, Voni. That’s exactly what it reminded me of in my life. It’s hard to see the light when you reside in such a dark place.
Ngina Otiende
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 11:39 pm
You have an amazing wife 🙂 Nowadays am more observant than I was before(has to do with being in a new country i think 🙂 ) People fascinate me, but i tend to draw conclusions too quickly. Yet we learn when observe, not just idly watch. This post reminds me of another of your posts “Mermaid Man” – a great life is found in God alone. And He is able to wipe our slate clean and start on a fresh page. Now for all the ‘Insane’ folk to see that and jump into His boat! (cos if we did, it’s possible for everyone else!)
You have great wise thoughts, as always. Your posts will make a wonderful book – think i’ve said that before?..lol. And videos! 🙂
Floyd
Thursday, September 20, 2012 @ 8:41 am
Thanks, Ngina. You’re too kind. I forgot all about Mermaid Man! You have such a colorful imagination. I love the way your mind works. It’s inspiring!
Audra Krell
Thursday, September 20, 2012 @ 8:06 am
Look at Bill the CycleGuy pulling out a little Johnny Lee. That is the perfect song for this post. Your words and that song would make a really cool video with you and your wife as the stars! Another line from that song is “Searching their eyes, looking for traces, of what they’re dreaming of….” Yes the world is desperate to have their questions answered; ” Am I good enough? Do I matter? Do you see me?” But they continue to drink from the wrong fountain. I have a hard time with people watching, I take in their pain as if it’s my own and there are many hurting people out there. Somedays I’m afraid to look in their eyes and see a refection of my own pain, other days I buck up and pray for them.
Floyd
Thursday, September 20, 2012 @ 8:45 am
You have wise eyes, Audra. To see the pain in the eyes of others takes a kind heart, a heart from God. We should all strive for that vision.
On a lighter note… When I hear someone quote the song by Johhny Lee, I always think of Eddy Murphy doing it on Saturday Night Live as, Buckwheat sings. The song is titled, “Wookin’ Pa Nub.” I can’t help it! It just pops in there! He is hilarious!
Audra Krell
Thursday, September 20, 2012 @ 8:50 am
I’ll have to look that one up , I’ve never heard it. It sounds hilarious!
Floyd
Thursday, September 20, 2012 @ 10:48 am
WHAT? You’ve never heard that???? Did you grow up under a rock??? Okay, I may have over reacted… You’ll have to look it up, it’s hilarious!
Betty
Thursday, September 20, 2012 @ 9:17 am
Everytime I people watch I wonder who is watching me. Good post brother.
Floyd
Thursday, September 20, 2012 @ 10:50 am
I think about that too! Sometimes I spot the fellow people watchers as they look nonchalantly away… Thanks Betty. It’s nice to know I’m not alone!