Monday, July 02, 2007

Please Learn How to Park

I consider myself a fairly decent driver.
I can drive a car through a narrow thoroughfare at 135 miles per hour to get to where I needed. I can pilot a Harrier jet safely around a flock of birds without getting one sucked in through the engines. I can maneuver an Abrams M1A1 tank through jungles of trees without getting lost and without running over a single tree. I can drive a Marine Corps HEMMT tanker/fueler safely through mountainous terrains. I can for sure maneuver an extended cab eighteen-wheeler truck with a 51-foot trailer in tow in a tight parking space and park it on a dime.
Therefore, it has taken me no effort to park my truck between two white lines in any given parking spot.
This evening, I decided to treat myself to a movie. I was already late to the showing as it was so I decided to park as closely to the ticket counter as possible. Unfortunately, the parking lot was full and the closest spot I could find was “crowded” between a truck and a car. The truck was riding on top of one line, while the car’s tires were about 3 inches from touching the other white line. Nevertheless, I determined there was enough space between the two vehicles so I backed into the parking space and was able to park my truck within the little space, centered between the two invasive vehicles.
I also made sure that my vehicle was between the white lines and that there was room enough for the owners of both vehicles on either side of me to get in.
When I returned to my truck after the movie, I found a hand-written note on my windshield. It said “Please learn how to park”.
I pondered about the note, then looked at the position of my vehicle in relation to the white lines designating the parking space. My truck was pretty much dead on center.
I looked at the note again and ideas of what type of person would leave this note ran through my mind.
The thing is, I’ve noticed a lot of people I know make decisions on certain things because of how they feel, that somehow they’ve been wronged and therefore they have to retaliate. I wonder how many of us think that yes, we are free to make our own choices in life and we can make decisions that are in our best interests…but how many of us think about the consequences?
Adam and Eve were free to obey or disobey God, but they were not free from the consequences of the decisions they made. Adam was given all the freedom to live in the Garden except that he was not to eat from the tree or he would die. Of course, God was disobeyed and this disobedience later manifested through generations. There were key marks left on the side of my truck. This was totally uncalled for. If those folks would have taken the time to look at the white lines on the ground and saw how they were parked, I wonder if their mindset would have been different.

5 comments:

Terry said...

Dear Noel.
It is incredible how such a short note can be so cruel and can hurt so much!
I can feel the hurt that you must have!
You did your best and got that parking just perfect and some smart aleck leaves you a note like THAT!

Hey boy!! What are you doing?
Driving 135 per mile?
And you can fly a plane?
Your kids must be so proud of you.
I know we used to be so proud that we could tell our friends that "OUR dad is a fireman!"

Real good comaparison with those people and Adam and Eve!
Noel Lewis...You aren't in here so much anymore but when you are...Wow!!

Take care now and on Wednesday, Bernie and I will be thinking and thanking God for our special little Filipino soldier that in his part bought a little more freedom for USA and his children!
We are ever mindful that in the long run, Canada has benefited too..
God bless you Noel....love from your forever friend, Terry

Terry said...

Happy Fouth of July Emmanuel Lewis and we thank God for you and all the faithful troops who hold freedom so high that you have fought for it!
God Bless America!!!
And God bless you and your family Noel!
From Terry

Anonymous said...

Have a good weekend and a blessed Sunday Noel....Love Terry

Terry said...

Where are ya' Noel Lewis?
Miss you...from Terry

Curious Servant said...

I've been in Southern California this week.

Intensely angry drivers here, all feeling they have had their rights slighted.

Opportunities to practice grace abound.