Refocusing

Lately I find myself lying in bed trying to pray to God and thank Him for the events of the day.  Before I know it, my mind is all over the place. 

I find it extremely hard to stay focused on any one subject for too long.  I am finding hard to remember things great and small.  The worst part is, I write things down on my calendar and forget to look at it until it's too late.  I don't know what's going on inside of me but I do know this.  Before the sight in my right eye goes,  I will look at the world differently.  I will search out the beauty that is there instead of all of the bad things that are perpetuated by our different areas of media.

I recently went out to dinner at a place here in Indian Trail just to find that the old south was alive and well.  In spite of the poor service, lack of consideration, rude staff and being deliberately passed over - the bright spot was the one waitress who worked at the former establishment before the new management and new name took over.  I find it very ironic that the name of the place and the situation have one thing in common - I was really at a crossroads. 

I could have easily called out the staff right there on the spot.  But a very wise woman taught me that I should treat people better than the way they treat me.  To never let anyone see that you are down, but that as long as I look up and keep my head held high - I win. 

I walked out of that place assuring the very kind waitress that we would never come back into that place again, and that I would let my friends know how bad the experience was.  Is that going to change anything - no.  Is it going to get the people to change the way they think - no.  Given that MLK Day is right around the corner, I have to think like he would have.  How do I make a difference and show the world that not all people are bad?  How do I get them to see that their is a benefit to accepting people for who they are, the financial blessing that they are and that all people have redeeming qualities?

So, after a long hard thought process, I made a trip back to the establishment.  I met the owner and explained what happened.  Of course he apologized profusely and offered up a free dinner for two.  I promised him that I would return and see if there is any difference.  The cynical part of me thought in a different light.  I called a friend of mine who is a writer for the local paper.  I asked him to go in there on the weekend at dinner time and to take his wife with him.  I am going to ask some of my other friends to go on the same night and see what happens.  Why?  Because injustice is no justice at all.  When you run a business, you treat all customers the same.  Their skin might be different, but the last time I checked - money was still green.

I am the last person to look at someone because of their skin color, and the last one to use the race card.  I only go there when I am blatantly being treated different because of it.  You can only ignore me for a little while and then it's on and popping.

My eyes are not what they used to be and my mind isn't as sharp as it was two years ago, but my heart knows when something is not right.  You will never hear me refer to anyone by their race.  I will never put down and entire race for the ignorance of a few.  I take all people at face value until you give me a reason not to believe who YOU are - not the entire race.  Madea put it best when she quoted Maya Angelou - if people show you who they are - believe them!!!!!