Stopping to take in the view
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I stopped at the bank on my way to work the other day, but when I got there it wasn’t open yet. Because of the distinct necessity of getting my paycheck in the bank, I pulled over and parked to wait.
Initially, I was irritated that the ATM machine wouldn’t work. I was frustrated that I was likely to be late for work. I was anxious that the error I had made in subtraction in my checkbook wouldn’t be covered in time to prevent financial trouble.
I took one or two deep breaths and closed my eyes and began to pray. Not that the bank would open and not that my checkbook would be fine, but that God would give me peace and the ability to be still and the wisdom to realize that getting angry and frustrated would not change any other part of my circumstances. I asked him to keep me calm and to open my eyes to what he would have me see while I waited.
And so I looked around. I saw I was one of the only cars in the lot. It began to dawn on me I had the opportunity to people-watch for the first time in a good while, and to really just sit and notice my surroundings.
Slowly the world came to life as cars coming in and out of the parking area and people heading into their jobs became a more frequent sight. The day became brighter, and for the first time in a very long time, the sky was blue. Wispy, white, clouds floated across the sky, and it felt warm despite being in the 30s.
I started to take in all the colors; not just the blue of the sky but the burnt orange of a building, the bright red of a stop sign, and the grass trying to be green.
I saw a woman dropped off for work by her husband and the kiss they stole as she got out of his vehicle. I saw lights come on inside the buildings as shops prepared for the business day.
And then, finally, I saw the sign in the bank window flip to open. I was able to deposit my check, and I was on my way.
Was I late for work? You bet I was. And did I still feel a little anxious about it? Yeah, a little. I had sent my boss a message to let him know I was coming a bit late, so there were no consequences, but as a professional I still like to be on time.
But being rude to the bank personnel or my coworkers would have changed nothing. I actually felt pretty good about how I managed the morning. So I breathed another prayer, this time in gratitude, as I went about my day.