I was in a Lubbock McDonald’s yesterday following a funeral. I had gone there to have coffee with my good friends and fellow bloggers Matt & Crystal James. While there, I also ran into blogger Kathy, who was in Lubbock visiting family. It was an amazing little blogging reunion.
A crazy thing happened while standing in line waiting my turn to buy coffee. A lady turned to me from the drink dispenser and said, “Sir, you’re out of ice.” I guess that the dress slacks and tie gave me a “manager” look. I quickly told her I’d see what I could do. I leaned over the counter and told the real manager, “The ice machine is empty.” He quickly had it filled.
Not more than 20 seconds later, another woman came up to me with her hamburger in hand, “Sir, they put pickles on my Big Mac, and I clearly stated I didn’t want pickles,” she said. So, being the nice guy I am, I told her, “Just take it up to the counter and they’ll get you fixed up.” She smiled and said thank you.
By now I was having fun. The door opened, and as another customer came in, and I said, “Hi, welcome to McDonald’s!” By this time, the manager (who was also in slacks and a tie) had caught on to what had happened. When my turn in line came, I ordered my coffee, and the manager and I had a laugh about my mistaken identity. When the nice lady handed me my coffee and told me it would be $1.08, I said, “What, no employee discount?”
The whole ordeal got me to thinking on the way home last night. I may have looked the part of the McDonald’s manager, but had you taken a close look, you would have clearly seen I was not. The real McDonald’s manager had a radio on his belt, a name tag on his pocket, a patch on his shirt that said McDonald’s, a rag in his pocket and a tired look on his face. Just by being dressed like the manager, people were actually asking me for help.
How many times have I looked like Christ from a distance, but up close and personal, nothing really like him at all? I want to look like Jesus in everything I do, and I want to be a part of a church that has that same desire. A church that looks like, acts like, talks like and lives like JESUS. Not just from a distance, but up close too.
What would really happen if we started dressing like and living like Jesus in our character and actions? I ache to be a person that looks like Jesus in my …
- Compassion
- Giving
- Service
- Forgiveness
- Love
- Faithfulness
- Etc.
So, what (or who) does your church look like? A church? A religious organization? Christ? And if someone needed help, could they look at your life and see Jesus in you?
Besides, in the end, if you live like Christ on this earth the Bible says come judgement day … you DO get the employee discount. “Well done good and faithful servant.”
I am a Christian husband and father, who moonlights as the minister for the church of Christ in Childress, Texas. My wife Lea and I have been married for 23 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
Like you, I would rather look like Jesus, than any one else. Great post, and great thoughts. Thanks. Jeanne Mohundro
Can I get some fries with that?
Funny. I’m jealous you got to meet up with fellow bloggers!
Good point about looking like Jesus too. I hope and pray my life, when examined closely, reflects His light.
Trey
Sorry I missed you, Jeff S. said you were there and when I went looking I saw you from afar–you were just leaving. How as the lesson last night? Said a prayer for you.
peace
Neva
what a preacher! can’t even get coffee at McDonalds without coming up with a sermon.
nice job!!
brian
Lisa … you can have fries. For free!
Neva… I looked hard for you guys. I wish you’d have come over and tackled me or something. Man, I wanted to see you guys. It was a big funeral, wasn’t it? Silverton was good last night. I always enjoy going. Their preacher, James, is an awesome guy. They are a special little church. I love the people there.
As you know, Brian, we have to look for sermons everywhere … because Sunday’s coming!
Can I get a plate of “the fruit of the Spirit” to go with my coffee?
I sometimes deceive myself and think, “Wow, I really look like Jesus. Look at all the good I’m doing: teaching classes, ladies retreats, reading my Bible daily, being kind to the unlovables on Sunday, taking a cake for a funeral…..” And then I look at the ones who see me up close, my husband, children and a dozen teens that have been running in and out of my house this week and I see that I haven’t done so good of a job. Thanks for the humbling, it makes my chest hurt!
Monalea
Monalea … You are right. It’s always the family that sees us for who we really are. And, as for “humbling you and making your chest hurt” … I always enjoy smacking you around
Great post, Trey.
I am sure I fall short in resembling my savior in certain aspects of my life, but I hope I never give up trying to look like him.
thanks for the reminder.
Now that’s the Trey that I know and love. Playing like you are the manager. That is so funny.
I like the way you put that all together and you have me thinking. It is really hard to self evaluate. One thing is for sure you always seem to look, act, and talk like the people that you spend the most time with!
Have a great day!
Monica
‘Slap, slap’ thanks Trey I needed that!
Monalea – www
trey-
We are cleaning up at the church building and I went to the “dump” I love going to the LandFill. We dropped off one load of trash and the a man came out of the office and asked me to help him with his computer. Then he asked of my name and number just in case he had other problems.
We go to LOWE’s to buy some wood for shelves and the a woman comes up to me and asks me to find a some wood screws. Then I spend 1/2 an hour showing her all the different types of cordless drivers she can use.
I think it is a PREACHER thing. I go to visit congregations and strangers will come up to me and ask me to empty the trash or “we need toilet paper in the bathroom”- That has happened to me more than once.
My son was with me and after the trash and Lowe’s incident he says, “If your finished helping the world we still have work to do”
But, NOBODY ever guesses I’m a preacher. I can be at a Preacher’s Luncheon and people assume I’m one of the waiters. That I can’t figure out.
I have a friend (yes really I have one) who once tried to give me pointers on dressing, looking and acting like a Preacher. He told me I’d never make it big until I did. Fooled him- I weigh more now than ever!
Don — is that Cajun speech? “the a man” and “the a woman”??
Trey,
they would have known you were not the real manager when you started talking about the “free gift” and someone else “paying”
Peace
Neva
BTW–is that why many men call dress clothes “a clown suit”–it makes people think of McRonald?
Don!! you are a preacher????
brian
Trey,
Great post!
May, I first say, GO SPURS GO!
Ok, I do think the church that I am at looks like the body of Christ each person has different talents and gifts. As a young minister I read a lot of 1 & 2 Timothy. I read it as much as I can. So, I strive to teach the gospel, grace, life lessons that need and will chanllenge their faith and help their life, sermons that help them see God working in their life, I try to move them on towards maturity beyond the elemtary teachings as mentioned in Hebrews. I focus on knowing God rather than knowing about God and showing them the difference.
I hope it makes sense.
Again this is a great post.
Good to see you friend.
James gets asked questions alot at Wal Mart. I’ve never figured that out. Maybe it is because he is organizing their shelves.
Don, by your standard, I guess I’ve made it big too.
Kathy
Trey,
I’m with Don. I think it is a preacher thing. Been there at a million different stores. It might have something to do with my fronting the shelves for the store. I hate when stuff is shoved to the back of the shelf. It belongs so we can reach it.
I too make it my goal to look good up close but you are soo right guys about those closest seeing our flaws. Thank God for grace.
James
while i was typing and thinking and listening to an announcement about bad weather. Sorry I repeated Kathy.
James
a lisa-
It’s a the way that a I a talk some times.
Lisa, Don sounds more Italian than Cajun.
I have a habit of straightening shelves when I am looking for something, and picking up items from the floor and placing them where they belong, but have never been mistaken for an employee. Is that a sexist thing?
Jeanne Mohundro
That’s funny, Nana — he IS Italian! Can’t believe I didn’t even figure that out.
Not being mistaken for an employee — maybe it’s more of a gray-haired thing.
Great Post! We actually need to BE imitators of Christ and not just look like we are from a distance. Thanks for the reminder.
This reminds me of a story Max Lucado wrote where there were two guys – one looked like Christ and the other acted like Christ.
The moral of Max’s story was of course that as Christians we are expected to act like Christ. Sadly some Christians seem to have forgotten that.
David Carter
David,
Good point … I think I’ve read that story.
Thanks for stopping by.