It was a decision-laden day. I was of two minds, torn between the options of how to handle a difficult situation at work. Over the course of the day, I had worried myself sick bantering ideas back-and-forth with myself trying to come to an equitable solution to the problem. I was exhausted and stressed with much to do and little time to accomplish the tasks at hand. I thought I would scream if anyone asked me to do another thing or make another trivial decision. Then, on top of everything else that had gone wrong that day, I discovered that there was nothing in the refrigerator at home to eat. Going to the supermarket would make me late for parents back-to-school meeting that evening, but I didn't want the boys to have to eat fast food on a school night. So I made a quick dash to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients for an easy meal. It seemed that everyone else in town had the same idea. The supermarket was absolutely packed with people. The checkout lanes were crowded five and six customers deep. So I stood and waited. Finally, it was my turn at the register. I looked down the lane and made eye contact with the bag boy. He was a stocky teen with Downs Syndrome. (Just my luck, I thought. Today, of all days, I get the slowest sacker!) I reached into my purse with a sigh and retrieved my checkbook.

The bag boy smiled, "Hi, Ma'am."

I grumbled an irritated hello in reply. (I thought maybe he would get the message. That I'd rather not be bothered with small talk.)

"How are you today?"

"Busy."

"That's o.k. I know how you feel. We're busy here, too," he said with a lisp. Do you want paper or plastic?" he asked?

"Excuse me?"

"Paper or plastic?" He put his hand on the paper bags. I shook my head.

"Plastic for the cold things." I replied. "Paper for the non-perishable items."

He moved his hand to the plastic bags then back to the paper bags.

"Paper?"

"Yes. That's fine," I said even more irritated.

"Or plastic?"

"Either one will do. I'm in a hurry."

"Yes ma'am!"

The bag boy scratched his head in bewilderment and hurriedly started bagging all of the groceries into plastic sacks, without regard to whether or not they were refrigerated items. (Oh well, I just want to go home. Paper or plastic, who cares? I thought to myself. Just get me out of here. This is lunacy!) I wrote my check and the cashier handed me my receipt.

The bag boy placed my two plastic bags inside one large paper sack. He grinned as he handed me my prize, "Paper AND plastic, everybody goes home happy!"

His name tag said, Zachary. "Thanks, Zachary," I said with a smile.

"You can call me Zack. I'm the man with the sacks! Get it? Zack/Sack?"

I laughed.

Zack had the right idea! Approach life as a game. When in doubt, compromise. Play for win/win outcomes. I looked towards the sky. (How could the answer be so simple?)

The next time you are faced with a seemingly unsolvable problem, pray about it. Then look for answers in unexpected places!

Your friend in Christ,
Sharla

Copyright © 2001 by Sharla Taylor