The Texas Roadhouse

Sunday noon, we were invited to the Texas Roadhouse by our son and his family to have lunch.  Although I enjoy going there, it’s always very, very noisy and busy, and this time was no different.  There were eight of us all together, and I couldn’t hear the conversation at the other end of the table much of the time due to all of the noise and hubbub.

So as I sat at the end of the table and enjoyed my filet medallions, I began watching the wait staff as they went about their business.  And I counted five different employees, besides the manager, who stopped by our table to bring something or take something away, or just ask how things were going.  One of those five was our server, but the other four were people who did who-knows-what who brought the salads, drinks, etc., or who took away empty plates.

And crowded though the place was, everyone seemed to zig at just the right time or zag over to the other side to avoid collisions with other wait staff who were busy carrying this or going here or there.  I don’t know what it’s like at that restaurant behind the scenes where the meat cutters hand-cut the steaks, or where the bakers bake the delicious rolls, or where the dishwashers clean up the messes.  But from what I see in the public area, the wait staff and employees do a good job of working together, getting done what needs to be done, even if it may not necessarily be their job or their table.

I don’t want to go so far as to say they were a well-oiled machine, but they did give the impression of a group of people who, if they didn’t truly enjoy what they did, at least they didn’t hate it.  And they seemed to have the best interests of the customer and of other employees in mind as they went about their work.  There was no room for slackers or malcontents on the day I was there.

It’s like that, of course, in many arenas of living.  Families, work, civic groups, church…people need to work together and look out for others, offering to help out wherever needed even if it isn’t in their job descriptions.  It seems we’d do a lot better as a society if we practiced this kind of helpfulness and cooperation in what we do and how we do it instead of working desperately to get whatever is “in it for me.”

Jesus said as much when he said, “As you would that men should do to you, do also unto them likewise.”  This, the Golden Rule, is also said like this, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

He also said that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.  He then went on to explain that one’s neighbor was virtually everyone else besides oneself.  Loving our neighbor means that we’ll desire the best for them and work to that end.  Loving our neighbor means that we’ll put our desires below the needs of our neighbor.  Loving our neighbor means that we’ll sacrifice if necessary for them.

How are you doing in following the Golden Rule or the greatest commandments?  What are you actively doing to train yourself to look at others first?  How are you coming along in the greed and selfishness categories?

The Texas Roadhouse bunch seemed to have it together Sunday, and they showed it in their ability to serve many people in a crowded, noisy environment and make it a pleasant experience for everyone.  Can we Christians do any less?