Love Speaks Volumes

Generally I don't post blogs too close together, but I witnessed something today that slapped me across the face and screamed in my ear for me to write about it.

I was at Starbucks earlier (shocking, I know) and witnessed something that upset me a little. A woman's drink wasn't made to her standards, and rather than drink it anyway, or ask nicely for a new one, she insisted that the barista on bar add a shot, saying that if the barista were to remake it, she would just remake it wrong again.

It would be easy for me to sit here and write all about how wrong I think that woman was, but I won't. I can't say what's right or wrong for her, or for anyone other than myself. Instead, this event made me think about how I treat people myself.

While the woman waited for her drink to be "fixed," she looked at me and shook her head and rolled her eyes. I think she wanted me to commiserate with her, but instead I just stared straight ahead and avoided dealing with it. I was thinking, "It's just coffee.

No need to get so upset and maybe hurt someone's feelings." I was even a little upset with her for treating one of my friends with such a lack of respect. But rather than say any of that, I avoided.

I feel like, in general, we avoid things a lot. Maybe I should say I avoid things, instead of we, because I really don't want to be someone who generalizes everything in order to avoid blame or responsibility. I avoid things a lot. Especially things like that.

Perhaps I should have turned to the woman and told her off, but I don't think so. Perhaps my avoidance of her was worse than that. All I know is, I didn't handle the situation with love, and even in retrospect I'm not sure how I should have reacted.

As a follower of Jesus, I believe it's everyone's duty, whether you're a Christian or not, to love people. I don't want to tell someone they're wrong for not loving, but I do want to say that I want to love people. I want to love everyone I meet, and I want that to be clear. I want to do this because I think it's what life is really about.

However that woman acted, I should have shown her love. I showed my friend love by not talking to the woman about her drink in a negative way, but I didn't show the woman love. I ignored her, which is the same as telling her off I think.

Love speaks volumes. It heals us when nothing else can. It takes a rotten day and turns it on its head. It mends broken hearts and changes your perspective on things.

I wish that I had thought of that today for the brief moments I was in the same space as that woman. No, I wish that I didn't have to think about it, that to love her regardless of my emotions toward her in that moment was my first nature, rather than an action I decided to take. I want to love people. I think if we all loved each other, no matter what, then everything would be better.

I messed up today. But maybe because I messed up today, I won't the next time I'm given an opportunity to love someone. Whether it's in the line at the grocery store, or paying for gas, or talking to a friend, we have the opportunity to love on people every time we see them. I don't want to waste any more of those opportunities.