Sone may or may not know that I recently became employed by a restaurant, this has allowed for interesting moments. The other day was a day of firsts, my first "Roll Tide" from a mountain brook socialite as a response to my "have a nice day ma'am." Then I brought a man his meal, I said "enjoy your meal sir." He said "You too! Wait your not eating..." As priceless as those were there was another on the same day. I had a realization about Church, life, and Christian Community.
I took a woman her food, her salad wasn't supposed to have red onions, I offered to take it back. She very sullenly and almost aggressively told me "I'll pick them off; this time." It struck me because although it appeared as though she was gracious (she didn't accept the offer to fix it) she wasn't. She was wronged, and she wanted me to know it.
It was a realization because it was an experience I had not had in a while. In the time since the last time it happened I have developed the tools to communicate this experience. I attribute this to my growth at my School. It is a very gracious community I often find myself a part of, and I am thankful.
There wasn't an echo of grace in the woman's speech, and the last time I had heard that there wasn't either. And the last time was at work, work at a Church, no grace, no Christ likeness. It was bothersome then, but I'd never would've confronted someone about it. Now it was my instinct, this was not Christlike, and I felt like I needed to confront this woman to aid in her sanctification.
Lastly I will add this, the Church I was at when this was a common occurrence needs to learn to do what Christ did, bleed grace. I want to bleed grace, and I want everyone else also to do so. I won't have this; not on this side of the second coming. But as communities we need to realities of grace, first that to image Christ is to be gracious, and second that grace trains in godliness (Titus 2:11-13), not in debauchery.
