Backwards Feet in a Bathroom Stall

So I was in a huge hurry with many errands to run. Stood in the long line to return things at WalMart, then parked my cart by the benches outside the public restrooms and zipped in, heading as I always do to the last stall.

Aaah, two glasses of sweet-and-low tea for lunch didn't bother me anymore. The bathroom was empty as I entered, but as I was occupying the last stall, someone came in to the stall next to me.

Weird. Just weird. Big old scrungy blue Converses, dirty and ragged, must have been size 13 and a half! Dirty raggedy jeans bottoms too. But the weirdest part is that the feet were backwards, you know, facing the porcelain bowl. As in standing up to pee....

First thought: Oh my goodness, what kind of weirdo (I actually thought "pervert") is in the stall next to me? I got a little nervous.

Then I got a lot nervous.....as if it were slow motion, it dawned on me that the shoes in the stall next to me were not filled by a weirdo. MY shoes were the ones filled with a weirdo. Yes, I was in the men's bathroom, and I was not alone! (No, I don't have any photos to post.)

How do I exit gracefully? Well, I don't. I come racing out of the stall with my hands serving as blinders on my downward-looking eyes, announcing loudly as there was now more than one other person joining me, "Sorry everybody, I came into the wrong bathroom!"

Loud laughter ensued, but I kept walking briskly. No I did not stop to wash my hands. I exited and immediately made a left turn to go to the women's restroom where I thoroughly washed my hands which were jittering like a drop of water in a skillet.

It's funny the things God uses to speak to me. I suspect He would speak to me in all things if I would listen more.

But this time, He highlighted my critical spirit. Fascinating how I immediately thought the other person was in the wrong, because it certainly couldn't be me. Thinking that I was wrong would be the farthest thing from my mind. Just like my everyday life.

Luke 6.42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Two things I'm thankful for: 1) I used the liner on the toilet seat. 2) God will speak to me even when (especially when?) I'm in the wrong place.

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The Gold(en Corral) Standard

"You know what I really like about eating at Golden Corral?" Mike offered as he and I along with Joshua and Rachael indulged in the all-you-can-eat buffet when we were traveling last week. "I love that I'm one of the skinny ones!"



Of course we all burst out laughing, because under any other circumstances none of us sitting at that table would be called "one of the skinny ones." But using the Gold(en Corral) Standard made us feel so much better about ourselves :-) as we went for that second plate of food.

That's exactly the kind of thinking I had during my first few years of being a Christian. I had always been the compliant first-born and labeled a good child because, compared to many (many, many) other children, I was gold. If others were my standard, then I stacked up pretty well.



The problem is, well, actually the great thing is, that others are not my standard. I don't have a Gold Standard to measure up to, but I have a God Standard, and boy do I fall short! When my sin is revealed being held up to the God Standard, God gives me the desire, along with the strength, to deal with it.



Romans 3.22,23 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.



Dear God, how I'm thankful for Your Standard in Your Word and in Christ's example. I'm thankful for all the growth that it has brought in my life. Please reveal anything in my life that does not please you.

Remembering....

Jonathan Basham

05.06.05

Remembering is good, but looking forward, especially to Heaven, is way cooler.

See you then, little guy.

Revelation 21.4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.