Free Coffee

 It was a nice morning as I left our house in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and made my way to Twice Daily, a convenience store located on Main Street. I was in pursuit of some fresh coffee. The employees at the 24/7 store are usually very kind and they even allow me to fill my tumbler without charge. I made some small talk with Bob, the man behind the counter, and then walked back to my truck. It was around 5:30 in the morning. I noticed a young man and a young woman walking in my direction. I spoke to them and they in a friendly way responded back to me. It was then that the young man said, "Would you happen to have ten dollars that you could spare?" I quickly responded, "No, I don't; I just got free coffee." As I opened the door of my truck, I heard the young lady say, "Do you have any money at all to help us?" I never responded and quickly drove away acting like I did not hear.

As I drove away, I begin to examine what I had just done. I did have more than ten dollars with me. Why did I respond to the couple that way? I needed to get breakfast food at a nearby McDonald's before returning home. But as I left Twice Daily I became increasingly troubled. The words "Do you have any money?" from the young lady echoed in my mind. I quickly got the order for Rosalind's and my breakfast and rushed back to the convenience store to see if the couple was still there.

When I returned it was apparent that they were gone.  Too late!  I had missed an opportunity to render assistance to others. I did not show sensitivity to their needs. I had been dishonest with the couple. While I realize that we have to be wise and discerning in these situations, I believed that I had judged them without seeking to know about them. Please note that I was in a safe, open area and didn't feel threatened.  I am certainly not judging anyone else's fear or caution toward strangers, which can be and often is smart; there are many times that it would not be wise to engage. This is my story of one incident in my life. 

So I asked myself the question, "What would Jesus have done in this situation?" The Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:2, "Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it." Did I miss an opportunity to come in contact with angels? Why did I judge them unfairly? 

I share this with you because it brought home to me the fact that, even or especially as we grow older, we need to be mindful and reflective of our behavior. I am a believer in Jesus Christ but I failed to walk like him that morning. I got free coffee but was not willing to give free aid to someone else. I in fact judged them before I knew their story.

In conclusion, I believe that sometimes, as we grow older, we can forget that it is by grace that we are saved. It seems that we can begin to think we are becoming more righteous.  I need more grace the older I become. Jesus is my righteousness. And, the more I grow in becoming Christlike the more I realize how far I am in becoming Christlike. Effective leaders are continually examining and renewing themselves, understanding they will never grow into perfection. The Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 10:12, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."  Lack of self-reflection can be a hindrance to productive leadership.  

Remember, I believe we are all leaders regardless of position.