Misunderstanding Between Strangers (01/20/2025)

Yesterday, after church, a group of us decided to go to breakfast. I was the first to arrive at the restaurant. I realized there was no room. I was preparing to leave and call my friends to steer them to another locale, when the owner came up and told me that there was going to be an empty table soon. She pointed to a group. I could see they were done with their meal. So, I said we’d wait. She told me to sit just across from the table she was going to put us at while I waited.

I took off my coat, placed it on a bench, and sat down across from the table of diners. I could tell that they were done with their food, but that they were trying to “catch up.” So, I got up to tell the owner I didn’t think they were going to be done soon. A couple that was going to join me arrived. The owner said she’d talk to them. I tried to ask her not to do that because I thought they’d feel rushed. I told her twice, “We don’t want to rush them. We can go somewhere else.” But the owner went to the table again. This time, the diners got up, got on their coats, and left.

As they were walking to the door, I tried to speak to them. I felt bad about the misunderstanding. I know how I hate it when I feel rushed at a restaurant. But I couldn’t seem to get eye contact let alone a word with any of them. I felt so bad.

Everyone arrived and we sat down for our meal. But I couldn’t get that misunderstanding off my mind. Truth is, I still can’t. I hate it when I can’t stop another from being hurt or offended unnecessarily such as in this case. I should have walked to the table myself and spoken to them when I realized the owner was pressuring them. I regret not doing that and only speaking to the owner who wasn’t understanding.

Misunderstandings between strangers aren’t rare. We can take the actions of others nearby personally. We can misunderstand the way things unfold and blame another erroneously. But what yesterday taught me was that I need to bolder in doing what is right. I truly should have walked to the table, spoken to the diners myself, explained the situation and emphatically stated that they should stay, enjoy their time, because we were going elsewhere.

As we journey in faith, hope and love, I pray for all of us that we be given the power by the Spirit to act boldly when needed, to read the scene and have the courage to do what is necessary in the moment. I pray that while our goal is unity under Christ, we recognize we will never achieve it unless we are willing to stand against injustice and for what is right, even if it seems inconsequential in the moment.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.