Sunday, May 17, 2009

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.

.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

funny story...great point!
~Leslie

Tori said...

Wow! So Funny!!! Great Lesson.....Thanks for sharing! LAUGH! :)
Tori

Faye Creech said...

Oh, such a great story!! (And something I need to hear!)

Mitzi said...

Absolutely Fabulous!!! Thank you so much for sharing. You Rock!

--Mitzi

Jennifer said...

Sylvia....goodness that was LOL funny!! Not sure WHAT I would have done?!? Wait for a very, very long time hoping for the coast to be clear?!? Oh, let's just hope that never happens!

Jane said...

Sylvia,

OH SO FUNNY! Sounds like something I would do, especially thinking it must be the other person, not me...Thanks so much for the laugh. I'm laughing with you not at you.

Renee

Laughter is good medicine!!!

ginny said...

saw you on a blog roll at in his grace and had to check out the post...i am laughing so hard! sorry...don't mean to laugh at your expense, but it is because i can totally see myself doing the same thing! thanks for being brave enough to share :)

Anonymous said...

Awesome story!

Dena said...

hey, i just nominated you for the 'lovely blog award', you can pick it up at my blog. :o)

Dena said...

dude, where's my picture?

StaceyC4 said...

Hey, Sylvia!! Where have you been?? I've missed your writings! So to encourage you to share some more, I've left an award for you at my site - allstace.blogspot.com.

Also, I'd like to talk to you about small group! See ya soon!

The Sexton Crew said...

That's awesome! Made me giggle out loud. Glad you found our blog so I could find yours in return!
Amie

Wendy Blight said...

I lOVE this story and the spiritual truth you gleaned from it!!

Can't wait to meet you at She Speaks. We know what will be on your heart while you are there...a wedding, how exciting!!!

Blessings,

Wendy

Unknown said...

that is soooooo funny! LOL