The shop was in a small back alley of Musaffah, Abu Dhabi’s industrial area. The entrance was barely one and a half cars wide. There was no ability to turn around once you were inside the dead end. I watched guidance unfold as a pick-up truck reversed into the alley for a quick load. Ignoring the gift of wisdom, I waited my turn and then went straight into the alley, blocking anyone from entering or leaving. After all this, I went to the shop at the end of the alley and found myself confronted by multiple tags promoting home Wi-Fi systems.
I imagined myself as the owner and operator of a rug cleaning business. There is nothing glamorous about the role. We provide a service where customer care and attention to detail (cleaning, drying, and not losing track of the carpet) are essential for survival. Basic, brutal, and dirt are words at the heart of what we do. Having someone tag my door would be annoying on a good day, increasingly frustrating as I try to keep it clean.
Anger and frustration are not problem solvers. I recognise my emotional bubbling over, some even having a foundation. I cannot remember any instances where either helped me solve a problem or move forward. In my search, I hear the echo across time. “Don’t be quick to fly off the handle. Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head.”(Ecclesiastes 7.9) In taking a deep breath and letting go of the emotional tsunami wave spilling over within, I find myself face-to-face with an opportunity to care and make a difference.
Annoyances are often distractions from my mission. I am not doubting that others have imposed themselves on me, demanding my attention, and asking for a response. I realise I am gifted with unfettered freedom. I get to choose what I will respond to. I have multiple options and a wide range of choices available to me. The question, before and after an annoyance, is what will I do with the moment I have?
