I readily admit that I am inclined to have a short fuse at times. I have worked really hard over the years at developing the virtue of patience. Consistently being the non anxious presence is quite the challenge. I had the opportunity to work on that virtue not once, but twice yesterday.

We drove into Woodward, OK about 1:30 Friday morning after a six hour drive. I officiated at a funeral in Granbury Thursday afternoon before we took off. Another funeral was scheduled for Friday in Woodward. I was looking forward to a few hours of sleep. The night clerk at the hotel was waiting on another person ahead of me, when I arrived. She was slow! She seemed new to the job and obviously lacked confidence. I was so tired that I was tempted to vault the counter in the hotel lobby and learn the computer program to register people myself. When my turn finally rolled around, she could not find our reservation.

We discussed the options and finally got something worked out. When we got up to the room, the boys fell asleep immediately. But the saga was not over. We soon discovered that the commode was not functional. By now it was past 2:00 in the morning. My patience ran out of energy during the reservation interchange. I was ready to unload on that poor girl at the desk.
I took the elevator down to the first floor. As I walked across the lobby, I saw that her getting all flustered as she attempted to check in a trio of characters into their rooms. I suddenly saw that girl in a different light. It occurred to me that she is about Randall’s age. I started wondering if she had a husband or a child at home. The idea of her dealing with all kinds of people in the middle of the night started troubling me. I gently told her that the commode was not working in our room. I could tell by the way she looked at me that she was expecting me to be really angry about it. She apologized profusely. I told her that she had no control over non-functioning commodes. We both enjoyed a good laugh. She moved us to another room and we got a few hours of sleep.

The hotel saga continued the next day. They had made a mistake on the billing process. My patience waned once again. I drove out there after the funeral Friday afternoon. My guns were loaded. I was ready to fire a few verbal bullets. When I walked into the lobby this time, the young lady behind the desk greeted me warmly. John: it is so good to see you! I saw your name on the list and I was so excited about getting to see you. I immediately told her how glad I was to see her as well. I unloaded my verbal bullets as unobtrusively as possible, as I leaned across the counter to catch up with someone I had not seen for at least six or seven years.

I have a lot of growing to do in the patience department. I have been reminded over the past couple of days that people are far more important than our minor inconveniences. The night clerk was young and very inexperienced. The hotel management had done her a disservice by leaving her on that late night shift all alone. She needed someone to extend some grace to her more than anything else. I could have done permanent damage to a friendship, if I had allowed my lack of patience to carry the day. Short fuses blow up relationships and destroy people. I think I better keep on working on that whole patience thing…