“Do for others just what you want them to do for you.” (Luke 6:31 GNT)
My morning shower is done. I’m finished putting lotion on my arms and feet. I wash my hands and grab a paper towel to dry them. You know what? I just thought of something. When I was a kid, we had no paper towels in my house. You used a dry a rough washcloth ready for retirement or you shook your hands sufficiently dry; the latter defined differently by individuals. Until this day, even with paper towels, I know it is a mistake to hang your towel and washcloth on the rack nearest to the sink than others’ bath towels. Located there, on the nearest rack, it becomes free game for every washed, semi-washed, or wet hand that enters the bathroom. Let me get back on subject. I dry my hands with the paper towel, ball if up in my hands and prepare to play me own version of bathroom basketball. All this time, I hear the pitter-patter of feet going back and forth down the hallway. I hear the sound, but it does not resonate in my mind to the point that some poor soul else is patiently waiting to get in the bathroom.
Immune to the increasing rate of the pitter-patter feet, I start playing my game. I shoot a fade away jumper over the red cabinet against the wall, aiming for the wicker basket on the other side. Sometimes I hit after the famous, “Five, four, three, two, one” countdown of seconds and sometimes I miss. The pitter-patter feet are still going up and down the hallway. I pick up the paper towel and try a behind the back, off the wall, no-look pass to my imaginary teammate (the wicker basket), to put it in the basket. If the results are positive, I say, “Yes!” If I miss, I go pick it up and start again. I usually forgo than bank shot off the wall at this point, become a ball hog and try a behind the back shot intended to go straight into the basket. If I miss again, I pick it up one more time. I try a lefthanded set shot, perfect form, but I miss again. By this time, the pitter-patter feet have become like some kind of transformer and have switched to pounding feet. I miss the shot, probably because of the noise of the feet outside the bathroom. I don’t decide to dunk the used paper towel, but I go to a post-game interview model with an attitude of disappointment because I did not win, and I do the “drop the mic” move, finally relieving the apparent anxiety of the person whose pitter-patter feet have become pounding feet.
There is more than an amusing story here. There are some simple lessons to apply to life all day long or just in life in general. Be considerate of others. Be conscious of what the unspoken signals, like the pitter-patter feet are communicating. Continue to practice what Jesus taught wherever you may be, “Treat others like you would like to be treated.” Come away from any type of thinking that keeps you from perceiving promptly the needs of others who send messages in non-verbal ways.
It is Saturday. Have a great day. Be prepared for worship tomorrow! Anticipate with excitement what the Lord will have to say specifically to you. Be blessed!
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2: 4 KJV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King