It’s Not About You

“It’s Not About You”, the first four words in Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life were humbly manifested to me at a gas station yesterday.

Next up in queue for ‘bargain’ $3.62/gal. gas, an elderly woman exited the car in front of me. Appearing somewhat disheveled, she began sorting through her purse, finally finding her payment card. Then she got back in her car without picking up the pump nozzle … ??? … dilemma solved when her car’s gas cover suddenly popped open. Exiting the car again she began fumbling with the gas pump’s keypad.

Patience has never been one of my few virtues, and I selfishly contemplated pulling over to the now open adjoining pump to fill up … or … getting out of my car to assist her. After 84 years I’m still a Christian work in progress.

Just as my conscience prompted the latter choice, the muddled lady lifted the gas nozzle from the pump and began fueling her car… start/stop – start/stop – start/stop … for the next few minutes. Finally finishing she replaced the nozzle and got back in her car … leaving the gas cover open with the gas cap hanging down.

I got out of my car, walked over, and rapped on her window. Startled, she rolled her window part way down … and then I saw the tears in her eyes.

“Miss, you left your gas cap open, I’ll close it for you. Are you OK?”

Her response brought tears to my eyes …

“I’m so confused, I lost my husband this week.”

I offered my sincere condolences, closed her gas cap, and she drove off.

None of us ever fully know what another person may be going through, but the certainty of one thing was reinforced, “It’s Not About You Fred.”

Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second id like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” –

Matthew 22:37-40

Keep Looking Up ^ ‘’’ His Best is Yet to Come!