Monday, February 1, 2010

flat tires and vindication


PEACE!

I haven't posted a blog in almost 2 weeks... and it feels like months, but anyway something interesting happened to me today...
Before I post the story, let me share this verse from the Quran:

"It may be that you hate something when it is good for you, and it may be that you love something when it is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know" (Surat al-Baqara, 216).

So, what happened?

I was at the post office waiting in line for almost an hour and a half just to return a package to amazon. I had accidentally ordered a duplicate book, and called the seller, and they said I could, thank God, return it with a full refund! So, I'm standing in line, getting frustrated and more frustrated, as every tick on the second hand clock tocks by. (get it tick-tock, yes, that was my attempt to be witty). Anyway, the guy behind me is talking to his girlfriend on the phone about how much she should be grateful for having him, and he's making all the kissing noises to her, and calling her 'baby' every other word, and I was twitching.
I just wanted to turn around and be like "DUDE! GET OVER YOURSELF!" but I withheld my comments.

Anyhow, I'm waiting in line, and there's only 2 people working there, and the couple in front of me is (or would you say are?) talking in rapid japanese. I know this is japanese (not some other asian language) because the words were familiar, and given that I watched too much anime growing up, I caught bits and pieces of their words. But it was frustrating me, cuz they were going on and on so fast, that I just wanted be like "STOP TALKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!".

Then, I finally make it to the register, and the girl who calls me forward, was like "put the package on the scale, and I'll be right back". So, I put it down, and wait for her.... and wait for her.... and wait some more for her... until about 5 people behind me were helped by the other worker.... It made me twitch, but I didn't want to be rude and be like, "LADY, TAKE ME NEXT". So, I continued to wait. Until some other worker, came up to the service area, and asked if she could help me....

FINALLY, I get out of the post office, and walk to my car, and see a little pink sticky note on my car... The first thought in my head was "Oh damn! someone better of not hit my car!!!!! and left a sad excuse of a note!", but I went to examine it anyway.

It was a note, notifying me, that my car had a flat tire. And it made me really HAPPY! I know, you're thinking, 'dude, you have a flat tire, in the middle of the winter, in MICHIGAN!!!', but actually I was happy. Because someone actually took the time to write that note, and stick it on my car.

I'm the type who would have never noticed the flat tire, until it caused me bodily harm, one way or another. And had I not got stuck in the post-office for like an hour, this person may not have noticed this about my car. Had I left, just 5 minutes earlier, I would be driving around with a flat.

So, it is with great pleasure, that the aforementioned verse dawned on me. Sometimes, a situation could seem sooooo sucky, but it protects you from something else. It is actually bring about benefit, even if you dislike it. I wasted an hour or so, in that post-office, thinking about the million and five other things I had to do. But, when I got to my car, that note vindicated my wait and did away with my frustration. I don't know who this person is, but I really appreciate their effort, because of their note, I went and paid 25 cents to fill my tire with air, and get home safely.

Anyway, I thought I wanted to share that.

Peace
-reem

3 comments:

Dima said...

Nice, that's a good way to look at it :)

Aya Sallat said...

MashAllah. I always try to remind myself of that verse and lesson.And small things like informing someone they had a flat tire can make someone really happy. we should be more like that, be ready to do good for others, even if we dont know them. :)

And you better fix your tires!

Anonymous said...

Subhan'Allah! That verse always comes to me whenever I am getting frustrated over things I have really no control over.

Truly, we are blessed to be able to look back at these moments and appreciate what Allah has put into our lives.