Missed Nap

Having slept little the past few nights, I was developing less than beautiful bags under my eyes.
As soon as I dropped Asherel at her volunteer work site, I scurried home and settled on the recliner. The bathroom still needed scrubbing, and the piles to be packed for the trip were whining from the back room, but I closed my eyes.

I do not nap. I am genetically wired such that naps are impossible. I think it is probable that when I was manufactured, someone dropped coffee on the part of the blueprint that includd the "calm" gene, smudging that instruction so badly that the underpaid labor force just skipped over that ingredient. It is hard going through life without a calm gene, but it is even harder on my loved ones.

However, I had accumulated so little sleep over the past few weeks that when I settled my head against the recliner back, I felt the swirling of reality that often precedes sleep. And just as I knew I was going to actually nap despite the absence of a calm gene, the phone rang.

I leapt to my feet and saw the caller ID flashing "Air Experts". In a precocious leap of comprehension,I thought that meant that a manufacturer of inflatable kayaks was calling, and would advise me on a sale of inflatable kayaks guaranteed not to puncture over rapids and sharp rocks. Knowing this was the closest thing to consumer nirvana, I snatched the phone eagerly.
"Hello?"
"Hello, this is Air Experts, how are you?"
"Thank you for calling!" I cried happily, "How are you?"
There was a momentary confused silence, and then the caller said, "I'm fine. Thank you for asking. People usually hang up on me. NO one ever asks how I am."
"I appreciate your call," I said, still thinking it was the internet store I had been dreamily perusing when I saw there was such a thing as inflatable kayaks with aluminum batting so they have the advantages of both a hard shell and inflatable. It never occured to me that the store would have no idea what my phone number was, or even that I was lusting after their boats.

"Well you have made my day," said the voice on the phone, "I am a small family air conditioning company and we will be in your area next week."

My hopes for an inflatable kayak with aluminum batting sale shattered to the floor around me. But now, after I had made her day being the first person ever to ask how she was, I could hardly back pedal and be the jerk I usually am to telemarketers.
"Oh, I wish I could help you," I said,"But we already use an AC service with the people we bought our unit from."
"Oh,certainly, I understand,"she said.
"Have a nice day," I added, humbled as I considered what the whole conversation would have looked like if I had known she was a telemarketer from the get-go.

I thought of the Bible story where the church is admonished for catering to all the needs and whims of their rich members, but disdaining the poor ones. Jesus reminds them that they are to love all children of God without discrimination, for all are created in His image....even the telemarketers.

I hate to admit it, but the lesson I received was of much more value than the missed nap.

Proverbs 12:25 NIV

Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.

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