I can't do that...

Yesterday afternoon, I found myself standing in line at the J.C. Penney catolog department in a local mall. The guy in front of me was having a bit of difficulty with the sales associate.  "All I want to do is pay for this with the gift card they gave in the shoe department." 

"I can't do that," the sales assoiate replied. "You charged it to your Visa, so I need your Visa." 

"But, the lady in the shoe department told me..." 

"I can't do that. You paid with Visa, so I need your Visa."

By this time the guy, who remained a lot calmer than I would've through this ordeal turned to me and said, "You picking something up?  Go, ahead. This is going to take a while."

"I can't do that," the sales associate said. "I have to finish with you, because the screen's open on my computer, so I'm going to have to have your Visa card."  The man dutifully pulled out his Visa card and paid for the item.  Then continued standing there as I waited for my order, trying to consider his options.

"Why don't you just return the item, get it taken off your Visa, and then buy it again," I suggested, trying to be helpful.

"I was just thinking that," he said.  When the sales associate returned with my stuff the man asked, "What if I just cancel the order, and then pay with the gift card?"

"I can't do that. If you cancel the order I have to send it back. This is the catolog department. It doesn't work like the rest of the store.

Wow! I've heard of protocol, but as I walked away with my package I thought, "That woman doesn't understand that her job is providing service.  I wonder how long it will be before that guy buys anything there again?"  It could've been any store, and probably has been at times, but the "I can't do that" attitude flows directly against the attitude of Jesus.  The sales associate knew the "law."  She recited the mantra of those whose first priority is the "law."  "I can't do that." What if the woman was there to serve her customers?  What if she really wanted to serve the man's needs?  Surely, there had to be some way she COULD do that?  What about you and me?  When someone asks us to do something whether professionally or personally, what's our attitude?  Is it I can't do that?  Or is it, "Let me find a way to do that."  Thank God, that when we walked away from Him, He didn't think about our salvation and say, "I can't do that."  Sometimes all it takes to be a witness to the God of grace is to find a way to DO that for someone else.  Really anyone can do that!

Comments

[Shawn M.]

Wow, how about this...a blog!!! This is going to be one I'm going to subscribe to!