day 846: Accurate Wieghting

"The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights."

I have written many times before about the importance of accuracy, integrity, and honesty, etc. I have even used the verse above literally as we think about the work that we do when it comes to completing a transaction. I had someone pull a fast one on me last weekend in Austin at SxSw. It was raining hard on Friday night and there wasn't much of an option to get across town other than to grab a taxi. Imagine trying to get a cab in NYC on Friday afternoon at 5pm when it is raining. That was the same difficulty we were having on this rainy Friday night in Austin, TX. When it comes to this dilemma, I have resolved to find a hotel and have the bellman get you the cab. We went to the W Hotel which was around the corner from the Austin City Limits Music Hall. The bellhop, a young guy, does his job and within a couple of minutes we had a cab waiting. All I had was $20 and I asked him to give me back $17. As I got in the cab and unfolded the wad of ones and fives he had stuffed in my hand I found $13, not $17. An honest mistake maybe? But I knew it wasn't as I looked back out of the rain dripped window and he was looking right at me to see if I had caught him or not. Had I not been in the car with others and we were already moving, and it wasn't so wet and cold outside and the cab was dry and warm, I would have stopped and gone back. So, that kid picked up a few extra bucks, but with it, he hurt the reputation of the "W" and his other bellhops, which neither I or the other people in my cab, will forget. The point is, it's the little things that can really matter. It always is and always will be.

As believers and ones who represent our Lord in our everyday lives and work, we can't afford to cheat the system. The stakes are way too high for us to cut the corners and be vulnerable to others feeling like we didn't deal with them fairly. Let's today take a hard look at what we are doing and working on to be sure that we are accurately weighting how important our integrity and character is for those around us. The tip of the scales in a way that disfavors another can be more negatively heavy than we know.

Reference: Proverbs 11:1 (New Living Testament)

day 844: The Last Seat

"There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?"

I knew there was going to be a problem when I didn't receive my day before "you may check-in now online" notice. I also knew from my itinerary that I had not been given an assigned seat. With both of these things in mind I decided I better head to the airport early. My flight from Austin to Salt Lake City was scheduled for 8:10AM. I arrived at the airport at 6:40AM and sure enough, when I checked in, I still didn't have an assigned seat. As I fretted at the check-in terminal, I watched a security line grow that wove its way through most of the Barbara Jordan Terminal. I don't have any status on Delta so I was resigned to the serpentine and the "turnstile-ing" as if we were waiting on a Disney World ride line, without the excited anticipation. I got through the line at 7:20AM and hustled to Gate 5. It was a good thing I didn't wait to pass go as the gate agent gave me the last seat on the plane; 20D which, was the last row against what should have been a window, but with no window. I couldn't complain because those who didn't get a seat were being told that the next available flight out of Austin, because of Spring Break and South by Southwest, would be tomorrow afternoon. I didn't wait to see if they got any takers on the $400 travel voucher and overnight stay with dinner in the airport. The last seat is always better than no seat at all.

Isn't it great to know that God has already reserved us a seat and more in His and our eternal home? No matter when we show up, it will be ready for us. As we go through today and this week let's not fret over our "reservation" in God's Kingdom and let's not doubt Him in any way. Instead, let's this week approach all that we do with no reservations about Him and the work He has put us here to do for Him. Let's work hard and purposefully to bring glory to Him in anticipation of the fully reserved seat He has waiting for us!

Reference: John 14:2 (New Living Testament)