Scenes From a Parking Lot

It is amazing what kind of life lessons you can learn if you pay attention to the parking lot. At one of the coffee shops I frequent, customers use parking spaces in the lot and have to go in to get their coffee. There is no drive through. People who visit this shop dutifully park their cars, walk to the door, get their coffee and return to their car. But not everyone.

         

I sat in the coffee shop one morning reading the paper and watched curiously as the gigantic black SUV pulled up along the sidewalk and parked at the curb. The windows were tinted so you couldn’t see inside, the chrome wheels were blinding, and the Mercedes logo gleamed in the sunlight from the hood. A young woman exited the SUV (How young? I’m not sure, but younger than me, which gives her a lot of room to be young.)

         

“Well, I guess she’s too good to park in the lot like the rest of us commoners”, I said to myself. “Typical wealthy person. They think the rules don’t apply to them. I guess she doesn’t care if she blocks traffic as long as she has to walk fewer steps to get her fancy coffee drink.”

         

Then it struck me. I don’t know this woman. I don’t know if it is her car. Maybe she has a good reason for parking at the curb. She may be very kind, gentle and loving. Why am I so quick to move to judgment and criticism?

         

During the season of Lent we are called to self-examination, reflection, and introspection. This scene from the parking lot exposed my propensity for judgment and criticism. Jesus warned us not to judge others, “...for the judgment we give is the judgment we will get.” (Matthew 7:1-2) I don’t want to be judged by the car I drive, or where I park, or how I carry myself. People should get to know me. Then why am I so quick to judge others?

         

The woman who parked at the curb needs to be loved not judged. How do I know that? Because we all need to be loved. Jesus loved people unconditionally and lavishly. He commanded us to love each other. “My command for you is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12) We all need more love, acceptance, encouragement and support and a lot less judgment. I am glad Jesus loved me and didn’t give me the judgment I deserved.

         

During this season of Lent God used this scene in the parking lot to confront me with my quick judgments and criticism; with my jumping to conclusions and my biases.

         

What are you learning about yourself?