(This is a blog that was a little painful to write because it involves confession. But a friend of mine encouraged me to share it because of what I learned.)
I was returning my rental car after a week of vacation in the Rocky Mountains. I have rented more cars than I can count and, by using a single rental company, I have racked up a lot of free days. The reservation was set up using the free days I had earned on line. However, I had also received several free day coupons by mail so I brought those to add on to the discount. When I picked up the car the attendant said she thought they could apply the additional coupons when I returned the car.
What I found out was that, for some reason, Hertz will not let you combine free days they give you online with the ones they send you in the mail. That didn’t seem right to me so I complained. Why would Hertz not let me use both sets of coupons since I had earned them the same way – by being faithful to Hertz week after week renting cars from them? I’ve been a “Number 1 Club Gold Member” for years and, besides, the girl that released the car to me told me I could use them when I returned the vehicle. I raised my concern (not my voice) to the point that they brought in the supervisor. After some discussion (that, essentially, involved each of us stating our individual positions over and over again) she finally acquiesced and told the counter worker in exasperation, “Just give it to him.”
I won!
But I didn’t feel that way. In fact, I felt pretty empty – even lousy. As I played the situation over in my head I understood why. I didn’t win; I lost. Because, not only did I miss an opportunity to bring a word of peace and comfort, I brought distress and anguish. And because I lost, they lost. God is a god of restoration and we are the instruments that he chooses to work through. The reason we teach our kids manners and to say nice things about people isn’t to comply with some societal norm. It’s because kind words bring the healing and restoration of the Holy Spirit. What makes it worse is that I have no excuse. I wasn’t tired or stressed. I was wrapping up a week in the Rocky Mountains where we spent a good part of the week above 10,000 feet enjoying the scenic views that are only available above the tree line. And I had just finished a 3 ½ hour dinner with friends in Denver.
I had brought hurt, not healing, at Hertz. I pray for that supervisor and that God keeps her in my mind so that I always remember…
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 12:18
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