Faithful “September People”
It was late August on the Oregon coast. We should’ve known that our plans for an early dinner wouldn’t come to fruition after wandering the parking lot looking for not just a space, but any space. We walked inside the restaurant to add ourselves to the long line of people waiting to be seated. Any hopes of avoiding the dinner crowd were dashed, but it was okay. We were on vacation time – no hurries, no worries.
In Oregon, the kids don’t start school until after Labor Day so families were squeezing in one last trip to the beach before getting into the fall routine. Sun-kissed, sand-dusted kids stood in line with tired moms and dads in front of and behind us. Strategically placed souvenirs for sale were the subject of well thought-out arguments by children hoping to wear down their parents into buying trinkets and t-shirts. A few edgy conversations were overheard as kids and parents became hangry and impatient.
We stood quietly, content to people-watch and take in the amazing aroma of food being served to someone, somewhere out of view. Every so often, a family would be seated, and we’d move a few steps closer to the hostess station.
Finally, we were up. A young man with thick, overgrown, curly hair and with a quick step led us around the corner to a table in the dining room. We had a view of the beach, populated by walkers, kite flyers, and very happy dogs. Inside, the room was loud with table conversation, servers with voices raised about the din to take and confirm orders, and the clang of pots and pans in the open kitchen.
There was a slight wait before our very busy server finally stopped at our table to take our drink and appetizer order. She was chatty but clearly all business as we were one of many tables she was juggling to keep fed and happy. She headed for the kitchen, briefly checking in on a couple of other parties as she went.
We busied ourselves with the view, activities at the tables around us, and conversation about dinner options. When our server returned, she apologized for the delay (which we’d been too preoccupied to notice) and fluently answered the couple of questions we had about menu items. The girl knew her stuff. She jotted down our order and was off.
It seemed borderline miraculous that there were no collisions or dropped trays of food as the waitstaff rushed around the dining room. We could see the kitchen staff bustling and hustling as plates were readied for table delivery. We couldn’t imagine them working any harder or faster so when our server again apologized for the wait, we were completely understanding. Again – we were on vacation time. And they were very busy.
Eventually, two plates of hot, fresh deliciousness were placed in front of us, and we enjoyed every bite! The meal was worth the wait! When the server dropped off the check, we thanked her for taking such good care of us. She stopped in her tracks and said, “You know what? You two are September people.”
Puzzled, we asked if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“It’s a great thing!” she said. “August is a crazy-busy time here at the restaurant. August people come in hungry, demanding, and impatient. They’re tired, and they don’t want to wait. You two have been pleasant and patient and appreciative. You’re September people.”
We laughingly let her know we’d never been called that before, but we’d take that as a compliment.
We later talked about how crazy it was that showing just a little patience and kindness made such a big impression on our server. But isn’t that what we Christ followers are called to?
Our mission is to be salt and light in a dark, decaying world. We’re to be people of gratitude and thanksgiving, standing out like stars in the night sky. We’re to offer words that build up with love, life, and truth. We’re to be ambassadors of God’s message of grace. We’re to be a “peculiar people,” set aside by Him to represent His holiness and heart to the broken, calling them out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
Help us, Lord, to be faithful “September people,” drawing the lost into Your welcoming arms. Our hope – the hope of the world – is found only in You. Let our conduct make Your Name and Your ways famous so that many will come to know Jesus. We ask in His beautiful Name, amen.
(You can learn more about who God calls us to be in Matthew 5:13-16, Philippians 2:14-16, Ephesians 4:29, 2 Corinthians 5:20, and 1 Peter 2:9.)
