Hasta Manana

We are all works in progress and this story is to encourage and not flaunt because I am heavily flawed. I've been an independent contractor and teaching artist for 30 years. It has developed my ability to work along side literally anyone. Being considered peculiar myself is another reason I enjoy meeting new people especially the weird ones. I'm working as a contracted Coordinator of a short project this week with two other individuals, both pleasant heavy smokers and pretty on point with our program. The woman heavily tatooed initiates their smoke breaks and as much as I detest smoke its all good because its done outdoors and when they return they work diligently. The male worker of the duo is named John who makes it his point to share with me he doesnt contract out on weekends because he is a drunk and that's what his weekends are for. My smile never wavers with this disclosure, as I think, "Remember to pray for John's liver." They even decided to play their rock music and I was enlightened while listening that gangster rap is not the only music with the f-bomb and murderous lyrics. Not a word from me, as long as we are on task. Ce la vie.

Well today we returned and as we worked in silence I wanted to get a jumpstart on the music selection and asked if anyone minded hearing some easy listening. I asked beforehand, even though I was not afforded that courtesy yesterday. They consented and as my Google Play radio turned on this didn't seem like a crowd for my usual worship or guitar hymns music and I put on Hall & Oats. Who could resist them? The three of us are intermittently humming "Sara Smile", "Private Eyes" and all is well or so I thought. John and "Sally" are from out of town and are being housed at a nearby hotel until our project is over. John decided to share with me during one of Sally's solo smoke breaks, "They really were shocked in the hotel this morning when I told them this isn't a continental breakfast! This is some burnt sh&% you are serving!" I responded, 'Why don't you make a formal complaint if it wasn't good?" He says, "I would if they spoke fu%/\*g english but they are al from either Mexico or PANAMA! They are the only ones stupid enough to do those jobs. I'm sorry I'm not cleaning up after anybody' s sh/%." At this moment, I continue working and I'm surprisingly not feeling a knot in my stomach, my fists are not clenched and I don't feel the urge to channel the heavy weight boxers that parented me. My back is to John and I respond without ever turning around after a long thoughtful pause. "All of my family is from Panama. I am the product of immigrants". John says, "Well my parents are from other countries too but they could speak english. If you are going to come over here you need to speak the f%/\_€?g language. I respond, "Well I have a lot of family that has come here and have not been able to speak english and learned over time and have done very well for themselves." John says nothing. I go back to singing my Hall & Oates. Sally returns from her smoke break. I leave the area to drink my coconut water and eat cucumber salad and give them time to talk about me. I thought about my prayer and exercise walk this morning. How my friend and I targeted healing and wellness and how we prayed and asked the Lord to help us look and live like what we believe. I reflected that John's hatred is not contagious. I have been vaccinated by love and self control. I don' t have to be infuriated by his ignorance and all the others that think like him. He will not define me or my loved ones with his Wikipedia. Maybe because I'm fifty now and the arrival of every day is a gift, I could hear my grandmother suck her teeth saying in her accent, "I ain't studying John, you here me?" This is the true demands of marketplace ministry. This lesson has taken me way too long to learn but wellness and being a wise woman is more urgent than being angry. I choose love. As my project for the day ends, Sally says, 'See you tomorrow"! I reply to her and John, Good night, Hasta manana! I hear Sally chuckle, no response from John.

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