There is no good way to write what I'm getting ready to write.
The local Christian college was hosting a Women's Retreat this weekend. I've been to retreats and have loved them and been very blessed by them. I've, also, been incredibly SHOCKED at the way some people behave at them. It truly is like a bunch of impish monkeys let loose.
Well, this weekend I received a new look at this behavior!
It started Friday afternoon when some of the folks from the nearby hotel/motel industries started coming in to cash their pay checks. The first lady I waited on was telling me how frantic her day had been because of these "retreaters" that were checking in. She was telling me how rude and demanding they were acting towards everyone. She, also, said that her company's policy was that everyone was to greet guests and be as friendly as possible, but when she had spoken to some of these ladies she was "ignored and looked at like (she) was a piece of mud on the carpet".
The next person I heard from was the manager of one of the establishments, and she made the statement that the reason she doesn't go to church is "because of the way Christians act when they are out in groups". She said "I can go anywhere and be ignored, why would I deliberately go someplace like a church and be treated badly because I don't belong to someone's group?"
Saturday, during my lunch break, I got to see some of these "retreaters" in action, at the restaurant that is closest to my branch. They came through the door in a very large group (around 23) and the first lady through the door started giving orders to the server that was going to seat them. It seemed they all had to sit together (which is impossible in this particular place) and they all needed their meals rushed because they had to be back for the afternoon session in 45 mins. Oh, and yes, they needed places for the two wheelchairs to be pulled up to tables.
As I watched the restaurant manager go into a slow-boil as she tried to explain that it would be impossible to seat that many together, and that the only wheelchair accessible table was in use, I just sat there aghast at the attitude of these ladies.
I understand that when you go to a retreat you are leaving your family and cares behind and want to be catered to and babied, but I was absolutely ashamed for these ladies!!! I have no doubt that they are really good Christian ladies, doing their best to live for Him and to be good examples, BUT REALLY FOLKS!!!
Does your good example have to stop when you are away from home? Does your Christian witness only mean something when you are with people who see you on a regular basis? Does good behavior only count when you are in a mixed group? Do you have to act like divas when you are at retreats? Do you forget to pack the Fruit of the Spirit when you pack your suitcase? Did you forget that Jesus said "By their fruits you shall know them"?
Do you ever wonder why the people that serve you at restaurants, WalMart, hotels, thrift stores, etc., don't want to come to your special events at church? Maybe we need to take a good look at how we are acting--maybe we are the reason.
2 comments:
Wow.
Your post makes me really wonder how I've behaved in the past. I would love to say, "Oh, I know, i've seen the same thing, myself." but, in all honesty, I don't really know. I know there have been times I've been so giggly-involved in my little group of buddies that I haven't paid much attention to the world around me. I'd like to hope I was still polite to the hotel and restaurant staff, but I don't know how I might've come across.
I do remember being at a Christian homeschooling conference and hurrying to a restaurant (one of the few in walking distance) with a herd of others, all trying to eat quick on the dinner break. My dh was served a salad including shredded plastic. Like a shredded fork or something. Some other people at our table were loudly irate on dh's behalf, which embarrassed us. But then the waiter offered no apology, no refund or extra dessert, only a replacement salad, and we sort of felt that was an under-achieving customer service response. But I hadn't really thought of how harried the restaurant was at that time, nor how rude others (and possibly our group) may have been.
I do remember one leader at our church reminding us, at a retreat, that we are showing Christ to the hotel. Maybe we just all need frequent reminders, especially in giggly-group settings, to set our hearts and hopes higher than just giggling with the girls.
Hm.
watch out folks, Mama's preachin'.
I totally agree - that's why when our ladies go out for retreats and stuff, we just plan on separating at restaurants and being seated as available and just giggle and cackle back in our rooms
Love you Mom - sorry you had such a rough time with that. I will see you soon.
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