I got to Bakersfield about 4:30 pm and got a good parking spot close
to the stairs of the apartment so I wouldn’t have to carry my bags so far to get
settled in. The spot also allowed me to
keep an eye on my car, since the area is not very safe. Most days I have to move my car closer to the
store so the cameras will pick up any shenanigans should they occur during the
night. But today I was lucky. The other guys who share the apartment came
in later and there was also a spot for them.
This is unusual, but I was thankful we all had good spots.
At about 7:00 I decided to get some dinner. When I came back, the other guys were hogging
the space I had intended to reclaim! My
immediate thought was “You inconsiderate SOBs!
You probably couldn’t wait to hog both spaces!”
As I hit the stairwell after parking my car much further away than I
wanted to, one of the other guys was at the top. He said “Do you have enough room to
park? They (the assistant Manager of the
store and his team) asked me to move my van over so they could park a truck
where we were. It looks like a tight
squeeze for you to park where you were.
Did you want me to move?” I said “No, thanks. I’m good.”
But am I?
I was seething from the time I discovered my parking space was taken
until Rudy explained why he had moved his car.
Why?? Because I’m judgmental; I
see that now. The question I’m going to
have to ask myself more often is “Who am I to judge?” It’s funny (Providential?) that this incident ties into
today’s Gospel reading:
LK 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is
merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed
together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured
out to you.”
Pope Francis had a beautiful homily on this reading today. It can be found here.
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