Rude, Inconsiderate, Selfish, Thinking Only of Themselves

Mel and I went to the store today to pick up some things we need to make our part of the Thanksgiving meal we will all share on Thursday.

We walked over to the post office first because I needed to mail several copies of our email update snail-mail. These are to people who don't have email, or else I don't have a current copy of their email address. On the other hand, I was recently contacted by one of our supporting churches, asking if we had a prayer letter since they hadn't heard from us in a long time. I have sent the pastor of that church every update we send out. Obviously when I send out these email updates, we do not know if they arrive where they are supposed to arrive or disappear into cyberspace or someone's inbox. But I digress.

I was thrilled - absolutely thrilled!!! when I walked in and saw ONE person waiting for their turn at the window. Being a Monday and all, it might have been one of those days where I take one look at the crowd and escape back out the door. The woman at the counter finished as I walked up, the one waiting took her place. I got out the envelopes and waited my turen. Maybe 3 minutes. A record short wait. Yipee!

There was a new girl behind the counter. I handed over my envelopes and she started working on them. The same old story - weigh every one of them, look in two different books trying to figure out the postage amount, and then working on the computer and a calculator to figure out what the cost was. As she worked away an old woman came up and stood beside me. She asked me if I was going to take a long time, if I was almost finished. I said no, that I was not almost finished, and asked what she needed.

We really did communicate all this between us, which kind of amazes me because I really have no idea what I said to her. She said she just need to pick up a box. I looked at the paper in her hand and realized this was probably true, that I was really understanding her. I asked the girl behind the counter if she could help this woman first.

She looked up at me in surprise - after all she was already working on my stuff. She glanced at the old woman and then called the other woman who works there. The old woman gave her the paper and the woman brought her the box, but set it down beside the younger woman, on her desk, and handed the old woman a form to fill out (are you confused yet by who all these women are?). The old woman filled out her form and then had to wait until the young woman decided to help her after all.

All it would have taken was 5 seconds to look up from what she was doing (she was aware of what was going on), take the filled out form and give the old woman the box.
But she decided to make the old woman wait. The old woman and I looked at each other, and she smiled at me and said, "Thank you." I smiled back and said, "You're welcome." Finally she got her box and left - when the young woman gave me the total of what I owed.

I told her I wanted to also order 100 stamps to be picked up on Friday and that I wanted to look at her New Year postcards just recently come up for sale. She got the box and spread out all the samples and then I asked her if I could have 100 of a specific card on Friday when I go to pick up the stamps. She was surprised, a little, and said she would check it out. She did take the sample card in to the woman in the other office when she went to ask about the 100 stamps on Friday. We'll see what I get on Friday. :) :)

Mel and I then walked to the store. This is where I was just totally amazed all over again at how rude, how selfish, how inconsiderate and how people think of only themselves. Grrr. And it was not toward me that this happened.

There is no traffic light where we need to cross the street to go to the store, never has been. Several weeks ago, though, the city put in a new stop light way down the street. Because of this we now have long breaks in the traffic coming from that direction. This makes crossing the street much easier.

Today we stood waiting to cross. We looked left and the traffic was very light, just one car coming from that direction, down the street a ways. We looked to the right and it was very busy for several cars and then a nice long break in the traffic. We couldn't see any cars at all coming yet after the last 3.

As the last 3 on the right approached, and as the one on the left got to that intersection, a woman on the other side decided she had to cross now. NOW. Not 4 seconds later when all four cars had passed. No, she had to make them come to a screeching halt so she could cross NOW.

We all on our side took off when they stopped. We all crossed safely, the 4 cars went on their way and then the road was empty for a good 15 or 20 seconds.

You know - this just illustrates the culture here. I am important and you are not. My needs come before yours. In fact, I don't even see your needs. Or maybe I do, but I don't care. You can wait for me, I don't need to wait for you.

I was disgusted, totally disgusted at her. And then, the icing on the cake - on the way home from the store, a young man did the same thing to the ONLY car on the street. The young man made that car stop, rather than waiting for it to go by and having a clear road on both sides for a long time.

Now these two people were not running for a bus or marshrutka or a trolleybus. No, they just happened to think they were more important than anyone else around, so people should wait for them, not them wait an additonal 5 seconds.

This how many pedestrian accidents happen here - I MUST cross now, the car can stop NOW, oh look - I am now a blood stain on the road.

sigh

I was thinking of this and some of the other things like this that we see so often and I was reminded of Paul's words:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3

and Jesus' words during the Sermon on the Mount:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:38-47

These were words that I was raised on. Think of others first. Put others first. Be considerate. Watch what you do because you should be better than an unbeliever. And so forth and so on.

So, when I see people doing these things, there are times when it drives me nuts. Of course, I am not perfect, I know that! I often fail in this, putting myself and my needs above others.

I guess maybe I just needed to be reminded again today.

Sometimes it is just plain frustrating, though, and is one of the little things here on earth that drives me to long just that much more to be in heaven with my Lord and Savior. Sinless.

Well, on the way over there today, we saw this building. I'll have to do a before and after photo tomorrow, but for now, here is our own Aztec Temple to the Sun being excavated - - - er, well, maybe it is just another grocery store, appliance store, or building supply store that happens to have a bunch of steps in the front. But it reminds me of an Aztec temple.... ha ha! Maybe it should be the Temple to the Dollar/Grivna/Euro!!