Our Stories
Christmas-Time Parking Lots
By Aaron Soderlund | posted 12/11/2008
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40
Last night I had my first crazy Christmas-time driving parking lot incident...
Scene: Me driving in the Redmond Target parking lot amazed that a spot opened up right as I got there. Beth and the boys with me in the car. I pull into the parking spot, but not very straight as it was a tough angle. So I back up (carefully of course because there is a car directly behind me watching this) and out a bit so I can reverse into the spot and maintain orderly parking in the lot. I'm barely out of the spot and put the car into reverse to back up. Low and behold that car that watched me quickly sped into my spot so I could not back up into the parking spot. And I was out of luck. So with a little frustration with the Christmas-time attitude of people, I found another spot somewhere near Siberia.
Naturally, I do my best to get a glance of the psycho driver so I can glare at him or something once inside the store. No luck. I didn't get to see him/her and I then had to get over it pretty quick. But good thing I had such a long time on my walk into the store to do that. I'm happy to say that I was pretty successful in not letting it bother me too long. But of course on our way back to Siberia from inside the store after our purchases, I gave the car (without anyone inside of it) a glare as I walked past.
What is it about Christmas that puts us all in a tizzy? What makes me more important than anyone else? Or my agenda more important than anyone else's? Is it really that we just don't like having to put up with so many people? I mean, really, it was Target. Not Bellevue Square where you really do have to park in Siberia. In actuality, the parking spot I ended up in was only 10 spaces down. It's not that big of a deal, right?
Two weeks ago we talked on Sunday about being "others-centered". That other driver acted pretty selfish in my opinion. And I acted pretty selfish in my attitude to the person that I never even saw. But I only acted selfishly because it was more important for me to get that spot than the other guy. It's just what we do.
Enter, Jesus... The whole point of Christmas. I'm guessing He wouldn't have tried to figure out who the person was so He could glare at him or anything. (Though nobody would have taken Jesus' parking spot. Everyone knows better than that.) But isn't that the point? We wouldn't do it to Jesus, so why do we do it others? Jesus says, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).
I'd like to say that I gave that guy my parking spot, but I guess that doesn't count.
As we are only two weeks away from Christmas, the shopping lines will get longer. The crowds will get bigger. The parking will be harder. The stress level of everyone will get higher. And most likely our temper fuses will get shorter. But as you're out shopping, driving, or whatever... remember that how you treat the cashier that is over-loaded and can't find the barcode on your new flatscreen television, is how you treat Jesus.
Good thing I wrote down that guy's license plate number so I can find him and apologize. (Kidding, of course.)
Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping!
To respond to this message, email Aaron at aaron@windermere.com.
