There are always those places where society meets. Where you see people from about every walk of life. From the poor to the rich, to the intelligent and sophisticated or simple and defeated. One of those places is a cattle call buffet like the Golden Corral. It is interesting to see people’s level of contentment here.
I’ve been a people watcher all of my life. I got that from my daddy. He was in no way mean to people, but could find out and see the funniest things about people. We would be somewhere, like a Golden Corral, or even watching TV and he would begin to laugh or comment on what was going on. He always helped me to see the “life” in life. I am very thankful for that. It always seemed as though, while in these conversations or in these places, that dad’s strength would shine. He could laugh, even when people would laugh at us or ridicule us. He was a very content person in the Lord.
Tonight, Kryssy and I were blessed by my mom. She encouraged us to go on a date and she spent some time with Jack (her greatest reason I think, but that’s ok), so I took Kryssy to the most romantic place I could think of, the good old GC. I had dual motives. One was a non-pressured place to talk and ooogle at my wife but to also see the melting pot that is the GC. There were so many interesting stories.
For example:
Party of 2 Plenty Old: Sweet old couple. Overheard their conversation about Party of 4 (see next) talking about how sweet and orderly the teens were being and how unusual that was.
Party of 4 Double-date of Youngsters: 18-19 range, who brought their own cake and I saw vodka in one’s purse who was slipping it into their drinks.
Party of 4 Double-date of Middle Aged Posers: 2 black couples who were obviously trying to out do the other. Not only in what they were wearing but what they were saying. Overheard them, talking about the Party of 4 (see above) and how they were slipping the vodka.
Not our Waitress: 40 something sweetheart with obvious husband problems with teenage daughter calling from home wanting to go to party with guy mom disapproves of and mom feeling guilty about using phone at work.
Carlos our Waiter: running around like crazy obviously taking care of too many people and doing the job of someone else. He is in-love with Veggie Chopping Girl.
Party of 3 Disabled: One very special teenage girl (precious image of God on her face) who smiled like crazy and was very happy to be at this Cattle Call but was paralyzed or maybe had CP, with her keepers more worried about their appearance and what people thought about them being at the Cattle Call than about their frined.
Party of 14 Madness: Well, since my favorite word tonight has been ‘obvious’ you know this story line.
Party of 2 Me and My Beauty. We had a good time. My wife was beautiful and we enjoyed talking about the rain and possibilities about the future.
I surely love to ease drop but this really was a tell tell of our society and where they are.
Non-Contented. Lost. Confused. Dying. Trapped. Blind. Miserable. Falsely Happy.
It was interesting to sit and think about what people are valuing. Thinking of what or whom they are putting their money toward. To see what or whom they are investing in. Mostly “I” “I” “I” or something that benefits them. Most people are not investing in life but investing in things that are ultimately fruitless or spurred on by their fears or image. Not trying to sound dooms dayissh here, there are some happy people in the world. (IE Me). But! Most are not if they were honest!
I want people to first value their relationship with God. If they do not have a relationship or do not know if they have one, they need to do what is necessary to know in their heart of hearts. They need to enter into a saving relationship with God. I would love to talk with you about that but you can also go here: 4 Spiritual Laws
I also want them to value their place and be content.
“Besides You, I desire nothing on earth” (Psalm 73:25)
“But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment”
(1 Timothy 6:6)
“Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid” (Hebrews 13:5-6)
It is hard to be content. Especially with a society and sometimes parents and friends that are constantly railing against you to achieve more or to buy this or live this way. We know that God wants to prosper us (see John 10:10) it’s just that the prospering to most people is a house on and episode of MTV’s Cribs and not an abundant marriage, a family life living in freedom in a medium income job serving in a place of God’s Kingdom where you are irreversibly changing lives as God changes yours.
I’m trying to be content but like this character I sometime struggle. I have not been content most of my life because I had no clue what that meant. I thought not being content was a good thing. Made you strive harder and press on. But with scriptures like the ones above and moments like tonight at Golden Corral, I am learning the real meaning.
God is for His people. I love the quote by Gil Bailey. I put it at the top of our page. It says:
Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive, for what the world needs is men (creation) who have come alive.
Come live, come alive! Be content loved ones!
We had an awesome team there at the event. It was awesome to see everyone in their collective glories.. Lots of fun! If you have not been to the center make it a point!
