Serving Changes

Wow! "Serving Changes" I just felt that title drop into my mind from my heart, and my fingers just typed it out faster than I could decide if I wanted to use it or not. It's a perfect title, really. But where do I begin?I don't know, so I'll just begin!

There are A LOT of changes that Jonathan and I have experienced with the move we made from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma. Yes, we are still in the same country, but sometimes it's hard to believe that simple fact is even true. The one thing I didn't really expect to be that different was serving. I mean it's the same job right? I thought that would be my easiest transition in coming here...I mean serving food is a pretty straight forward job right? Right? Haha...silly me. You see...even within a large company like Red Robin there are a lot of variations among the restaurants. The menu is mostly the same with the exception of a few regional variations, but, as with anything, it is the people that make the difference. So here's my story.

It was my last table of the night. They were a young couple who claimed to be servers themselves. I looked forward to talking to them and laughing with them about "server stuff." The laughing never happened. After the couple placed their order for an appetizer and burgers, I take note that they are arguing with each other. It becomes obvious that the young man is confronting the girl about some issues in their now precarious relationship. Their appetizer arrives...they won't look at me. The onion rings sit for 10 minutes before the girl eats one. The burgers arrive...nothing more is eaten for another 30 minutes. I check on them...they still won't look at me. About 50 minutes after they first arrived, I notice that the girl has left the table(presumably, to use the restroom), so I take the opportunity to offer to-go boxes and their check. The man accepted the offer and even requested to-go drinks and offered me his Red Robin Royalty card with which he had a free burger towards his meal.
As he handed me the Royalty Card he said, "I would like to go outside and smoke, is that okay?" Thinking the guy just had a really rough night and was stressed and, also, that the girl was in the restroom, I respond with..."Yah, that's fine. I have your Royalty Card, so I'll know you be back!" Anyways, I wait another 15 minutes, before realizing the guy wasn't coming back and the girl wasn't in the restroom and that I had been left with a $25 check! Thankfully, my manager did not make me pay for their meal, but he just as easily could have. I don't, honestly, believe that the two came in with the intention of not paying. I think it was a bad decision made by the guy who just broke up with his girlfriend, but it was still wrong. He must have thought that since she wasn't his girlfriend anymore he shouldn't have to pay for her meal! Thanks, Buddy! Moral of the story: Don't discuss relationship problems in a restaurant, it's just rude and provides opportunity for you to make terrible decisions. So, yes, the people make the difference in a restaurant's atmosphere, but let me tell you that people everywhere have one thing in common: They are all crazy!

Also, I love how the Spirit gave me these thoughts about serving. You see, serving changes the one who serves and the ones who are served. It makes me think of how Jesus, the son of God, chose to be servant of all. As a matter of fact, Jesus has a lot to say about serving others. The first thing that comes to my mind, though, is the story found in John 13:3-17. It shows the heart of our Lord and Savior that He came to serve us...out of love, and He shows that the person who also serves others in love are happy. How awesome is it that Jesus set such an example of humility when he washed his disciples feet? The best leaders are those who live a life of service to those they lead.