The General Lee
I had been brought into the boss’ office on several occasions prior. These meetings usually consisted of Jerry asking rhetorical questions and pointing out areas of “growth” that he is expecting to see in me moving forward.
“Ryan, you need to shave…you know the policy…clean shaven is like heaven.”
“What about the beard I am trying to grow?”
“Give it up. Three hairs does not constitute a beard. Go shave.”
“Yes Sir.”
Other confronted growth areas have included, proper floor washing procedures as well as the wearing inappropriate work attire…Jerry expressed his concern of my using duct tape as a belt.
“Mr. Wikre, it is not a belt. The duct tape is actually keeping the backside of my pants closed. You see I ripped them wide open on my last delivery run, so you could say that the duct tape is really much more appropriate than say, NOT having the duct tape…if you see what I mean. Which would you rather have…duct tape? or…the effects of what it would mean if there was no duct tape? Surely, I am making my point and you see my dilemma?”
“Neither, I expect you to have new pants before your next shift.”
“Yes sir.”
As I stepped into his office on this particular occasion, I was mentally processing what the subject of the visit could entail. I wondered if he had heard about the tail light incident or the stuck in the ditch incident or perhaps it was the dog incident…I barely made it out of that one with the remainder of my pants in tact.
“Ryan, I would like to talk to you about your job performance.”
“Drat!” I thought, “it’s everything!”
“What about it sir?” I asked.
“Well, I have noticed how you get in and out of your vehicle through the window. Would you like to explain that to me?”
“Would you believe that I was a childhood fan of the Dukes of Hazard? I often fanaticized about the General Lee!”
“Are you sure it the orange car that you fancied?”
“No comment.”
“In either case this does not explain why you are not using your door.”
“Well sir, if I open the door, the only way to get the door to close again is if I lay on the ground from the outside and kick the door up and in with my feet…and well…I don’t have time for that.”
“Ryan, I don’t approve of the car door, however, I want to tell you something. The way you work is exceptional. In fact, I don’t have another driver you can get in and out of his car faster than you do through your window. I don’t usually do this…as I don’t usually give drivers a raise because of the tips that they can earn…but I am going to give you a raise and say thank you for your diligent work.”
“Thank you sir!”
“You are welcome. Now…go deliver some pizzas…and get your car fixed.”
I did deliver more pizzas…but I did not get the car fixed. Instead, I purchased another piece of junk.
The point of the story isn’t the car, rather the relational experience that I had with Jerry.
Over the years Jerry and I actually became friends even finding time to fish together and hanging out together.
Early on in the relationship, I would have described it as respectful but fearful. Later, I came to see it as respectful and peaceful. My respect for Jerry never diminished, in fact, it increased over the years. However, my fear diminished and was replaced with peace. I came to trust him as my boss and see that though he was interested in my growth and change, he wanted to see me flourish.
Peace is one of strongest themes we find at Christmas. Luke 2:10-14 and Isaiah 9:2-7 both emphasize it vigorously. The truth of Christmas is that God sent his Son to restore peace in the relationship between God and mankind. This isn’t a ceasefire or superficial feel good kind of peace…rather it is all about an abundant peace found in the regenerated relationship that we can have with God!
May you come to find the true “Peace of God,” found only in Jesus this Christmas.
