Anyway, tonight I saw S.J. walking along Main Street and I thought of a God-like virtue. Tonight's virtue was Patience. Oh, this has not been a good week for Bill Kirby and Patience.
Earlier in the week, I stopped by our local Taco Bell/Kentucky Fried Chicken to pick up dinner. As I pulled into the under-sized parking lot there was this huge motor home that was parked very crookedly and took up a large number of the parking spaces. As I squeezed into a parking space I thought to myself, "What idiot would try and maneuver that boat through this parking lot?"
I soon found out that the idiot(s) were Ben and Joan Kolvalosky. The only reason I know that is because they were in line just in front of me. As I made my way to the counter, they were standing there staring at the overhead menu having a conversation with the Paris Hilton look-a-like behind the cash register. During their one-sided conversation, I learned that they were from Kentucky and they were on their way to Massachusetts to visit Joan's sister, Evelyn, who was recovering from a nasty fall at her house. Joan had told her that she was getting too old to take care of that big place but Evelyn has always been strong willed. Now look where that got her.
They just bought their motor home from the Johnson's who lived across the road from them. It was almost new, only 8,000 miles on it. They've known the Johnson's for over thirty years and it was a shame that Betty Johnson suffered a stroke only two years after they bought that motor home.
As I was standing there, all I wanted to do was grab old Ben by his suspenders and chuck him across the restaurant into the soda machine. Joan started to order but she couldn't make up her mind whether she wanted the new chicken nuggets or the soft taco's. You see, Ben and Joan were in no hurry. They were retired and they weren't planning on being in Massachusetts until Friday.
Finally, after several more minutes, the Kolvalosky's ordered their meals and shuffled over to a booth to enjoy their Southern Fried Mexican Feast. I was now the next contestant on the Taco is Right. Behind me, in line, stood a sea of humanity who was also treated to the life story of the Kolvalosky's. I ordered quickly and assumed my new place in line as order 229. One by one we ordered and then waited and waited and waited for our meals. There really was no obvious explanation as to why the process was taking so long.
But tonight after seeing Stewartstown Jesus it finally dawned on me. God was trying to teach me patience...again. His instruments of instruction that night were the Kolvalosky's and the crew of the Taco Bell/Kentucky Fried Chicken.
I really thought that I was further along in my quest of being more like Jesus but the truth is that I'm not. I wonder if Jesus ever encountered anyone like the Kolvalosky's? Maybe He did but the difference is that Jesus could have just made some Nachos Bell Grande, a few soft shelled taco supremes and some chicken sandwiches out of a few peppers and some bread, and, well, some chickens. Now, if the disciples had been there without Jesus they would have probably kicked old Ben Kolvalosky's ass. I guess I'm not in such bad company after all.
Be Well.
Bill
