Last week I witnessed the most feisty exchange…
A middle-aged man pulled his pickup truck into the nearest Publix parking spot. There was nothing unusual nor outstanding about the guidance of his vehicle. He was somewhat close to the gold sedan to his left, although the proximity had zero to do with driver error; the car to his right was hugging the line, so-to-speak, and there was simply minimal space with which to maneuver his vehicle.
The driver of the gold sedan had exited the grocery and was entering his car as the pickup driver came to a halt. He was an older gentleman, and noticing the pickup driver’s closeness, he paused all movement. In fact, he reversed his perceived intention — stopped getting into his car, got totally out, and shut his door. The gold sedan owner awaited confrontation with the pickup driver.
As the pickup driver got out of his car, the older man approached him…
“You know, my wife was almost hit here twice last week.”
The pickup driver — who seemed nothing short of surprised that this stranger would engage — humbly responded, seemingly desiring to honor his elders…
“Excuse me?”
To which the sedan driver repeated his concern, only more animatedly and adamantly…
“My wife was almost hit here twice last week! Two people almost hit her!”
He was angry… most likely, no doubt, sincerely angry.
I have to applaud the younger man’s reaction. He paused… stayed present… listened to the man’s concern… even affirmed his concern… and before walking away, he wished the older man well.
The older man never calmed down. It also did not rattle the younger.
I’ve thought of this each day since…
The older man was mad — his wife had almost been hurt.
The younger man parked nearby — but he did nothing wrong nor intentionally offensive.
But the younger man was closest…
… closest…
And so the older man reacted by taking his anger out upon the one who was closest.
Obviously, it was not the younger man’s fault that the older man’s wife had been endangered in the week prior.
Obviously, the older man had reason to be concerned.
But in our concern, how often do we take it out on the person who is closest?
How often do we let our emotions fly not necessarily on the one who is responsible? … but rather on the one who is easiest to rail upon?
And the hardest question today… that I ask with all humble sincerity…
How often is that me?
How often am I the older man?
Respectfully…
AR