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Saturday before the cruise was a long day. We had gotten up early to watch our son Mark run (and win!) the Mile-High Stadium run for the 5th straight year. Then straight to the airport, fly to Seattle, negotiate the commuter train system (thanks to the help of a friendly Seattle native) and arrive at our hotel in downtown Seattle about 12 hours after we had gotten out of bed.
I had gotten a text saying, “Your room is ready. Just stop by the desk to pick up a key.” So we went into the hotel, and there was a desk with a young man behind it. I said, “I’m here for my room key that the text said would be ready.” He smiled and said, “No problem sir, let me have your identification, and I’ll get it for you.”
Only after he had left did I realize I was at the concierge desk, not the check-in desk! A minute later he came back with a key and wished me a good day. As we made our way to the room, I noticed a long line to get to the check-in desk. My mistake and his cheerful response had saved us a lot of time when, as I said, we were tired.
It was a holy moment on his part for which we were very grateful. Most hotel employees, even at nice hotels, would have said to me, “Sir, the check-in desk is right over there. They will take care of you.”
Do I do just the “letter-of-the-law” of my job, or am I willing to go above and beyond?
Do everything readily and cheerfully… (Philippians 2.14, MSG)
Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others. (Colossians 3.23, Passion Translation)
Encourage the believers to be passionately devoted to beautiful works of righteousness by meeting the urgent needs of others and not be unfruitful. (Titus 3.14, Passion Translation)
What a great lesson! I awoke from a dream or more like a nightmare this morning doing just the opposite! I had been tasked last minute to prepare dinner for about a dozen people. When I tried to find out the exact number, the organizer said, “Oh it could be 12 or it could be 20!” Procrastinating as usual, I waited till the end of the day to gather supplies & table setting, and I still didn’t have a menu in mind. That’s when the dream turned into a nightmare! Besides, I didn’t really like the colleagues who had tasked me with this. So that verse is a great reminder to serve joyfully regardless of the circumstances.