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Waiting to fly
Do you think we should be compensated for waiting?
Should there be some kind of reward for showing patience?
I wondered about this today after leaving a Wendy's restaurant. I had ordered a chicken sandwich combo. I don't know what took them so long, but I didn't feel a rush, so I waited. ... and waited. Five more customers passed by me. The manager twice appeared and apologized that I was having to wait. The lady putting my order together also apologized for my wait.
I didn't keep track of the time, I was not in a hurry. I was hungry, but a few minutes wouldn't kill me. Finally, I was given my carry-out order, with another apology from the kind lady working behind the counter.
Then she said the strangest thing, I thought.
She said "Can I give you a Frosty, or some other dessert since you had to wait?"
"Oh...no, no, no thank you," I said as I turned to leave.
"Are you sure. We're sorry you had to wait," she replied.
"No, it's not a problem. Thank you... bye," I smiled, and I left.
That's when I started thinking about the reward for being patient.
When did we start having to reward people because they waited?
This makes it appear that waiting is a hardship at its worst, and inconvenience at its best.
When did we think that waiting was a negative action instead of a positive action?
It might have something to do with the place being a Fast Food Restaurant. We expect to walk in or drive in, place an order, and get it within seconds if not a minute or two, and most of the time it does work that way.
But often, there are new people who are being trained, which slows down service, or they may be short on staff on any particular day, which will slow down service, or the computers may not be working properly, or an employee isn't doing their job properly... any number of events can take place to make us have to wait a little longer.
I think we need practice waiting, and not just waiting and fuming and complaining to the person standing behind us or in front of us that service is slow, or the cashier is slow, or they need to open more lines... or whatever the probem is.
We need to practice waiting with peace in our hearts. And look around us at the other people, and notice who they are, what they are wearing, what kind of work they do.
Look out the window and notice the weather, the time of day, and while thinking about all the things we have to do with the rest of the day or the week, think also about how lucky and blessed we are to be standing in line in the first place.
How can I wait on the Lord if I cannot even wait a few minutes in a restaurant line or a grocery store line?
I want to fly and soar with the wings of an eagle... I look forward to that. I have done it before, I want to do it again.
But first, I have to learn how to wait with patience, love, and joy.
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Interesting! On the pragmatic level food and beverage operations are competitive businesses. Waiting time is part of business. Unhappy customers go elsewhere. Compensating you attempts to retain your patronage. Kind of a variation of “Give to Caesar, what is Caesar’s …” Though I can appreciate your bigger picture of patience. … Waiting is an art! <grin> As a caregiver waiting is a way of life. My ‘man purse’ is always stocked with “waiting supplies” such as candy, bottled water, ‘toys’, and a book.
Patrick http://journals.aol.com/daddyleer/CaregivinglyYours/ -
love and hugs Bea!
natalie -
There is a powerful message in here... I've never been a big fan of waiting, and yet I know in my heart, that ultimately the best is yet to come, and the waiting should be looked at as a fine journey down a path full of obstacles pointing us in the right direction. Patience is a virtue.. Hugs, Michelle
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A five minute wait isn't a hardship, unless you're in a big hurry and had reason to believe it would be much shorter. But if it's a much longer wait than normal (10 minutes or more for fast food, 45 minutes or more waiting for a table, three hours at the DMV etc.), then the people should apologize and if possible offer compensation. It's a question of courtesy. Still, you do make a good point! - Karen
7/17/06 11:11 AM
Lori
http://journals.aol.com/helms