FRUSTRATION

 

Have you ever had a good day suddenly turn into frustration?  Today was one of those days.  It started before my trip to Sam’s in Tuscaloosa, but it was at Sam’s trying to find some apple blossom antibacterial dishwashing detergent that major frustration reared its ugly head.

I don’t think the powers that be for Walmart and Sam’s really know how frustrating their constant changing of product locations is for employees and customers.  Then again, they my get their kicks from doing such things.

I remember trying to find some dried cherries, which are good for arthritis.  One would think that dried cherries would be in the fruit section of Walmart.  Wrong!  They are located next to flour products.

One Christmas on the way to Gulf Shores, I was instructed to stop at the Foley Walmart and buy some cranberry sauce.  I looked high and low to no avail.  I finally asked a lady shopper if she new where they may have hidden it, but she did not know.  I asked a Walmart associate, but she did not know.  I was just about frustrated enough to buy fresh cranberries and crush them myself but another lady over heard my dilemma and told me where I could find the cranberry sauce.  Once again, it was a secret Walmart area.

Webster’s dictionary defines frustrate as “prevent from succeeding, keep from doing, or being a failure.”  The Greek word for frustrate is ekkopto meaning, “to cut off, to cut out.”

I remember being in a “Take Two” safety class where the facilitator asked for the definition of frustration.  I said, “Mill room.”  Everyone in the class agreed.

Gerald, the facilitator asked, “What’s the mill room?”

The mill room housed six finish mills for grinding a mixture of clinkers, limestone, and gypsum to make cement and mortar mix.  Clinkers are limestone, sand, and iron ore ground and then cooked in a kiln.

The mills were large tubular cylinders filled with three-inch steel balls spinning round and round.  The mill room was loud and dusty.  Everyday laborers went into the mill to sweep, pile, shovel, and push wheel barrels of cement waste and dust that leaked or spilled from the mills, discharge chutes, and pipes.  One could never see any progress.  The waste and dust were the same after a few minutes.  Everyday was the same.  Every day was the same!

The mill room was busy work since each employee was guaranteed forty hours each week.  Anytime someone’s job was down, off to the mill room with earplugs, respirators, hardhat, safety glasses, a shop broom, number two flat shovel, and wheel barrel.  Everyday same job, same result.  FRUSTRATION.

Now, back to Sam’s.  My buggy pulled to the right.  I constantly had to push harder on the right side.  I put five gallons of hydraulic fluid on the left side, but it still pulled right.  I put a large container of All liquid detergent on top of the fluid and it still pulled right.  I went up and down aisle after aisle trying to find the Palmolive detergent.  I did some more shopping and returned another time across the store fighting the right determined minded buggy to find the Palmolive detergent.  I could not fine a Sam associate.  I guess someone placed them in an obscure place.

I fought my way to the checkout line.  The cashier said I could keep everything in the buggy.  I gave her my Sam’s card.  Guess what?  She told me that my membership card had not been renewed and that I would have check with Customer Service.

At Customer Service, there were five people ahead of me.  I waited patiently trying to figure out how to find apple blossom Palmolive dishwashing detergent.

Finally, a young girl behind the counter asked if she could help.  I told her that the cashier said I needed to update my membership card.  He checked and told me that the membership fee had not been paid.  I assured her it had she said it had not.  After a frustrating moment with her, I paid the fee only to find that now there were three large carts filled to capacity in my line.

When I got back to the office the secretary gave me the information where the membership had been paid.  I called Sam’s customer service and talked with a representative.  I just thought I was frustrated.  She said that if I would bring back the receipt or a copy of where we paid the bill, that customer service would give me the money.  I informed her that it was not my fault and that she could promptly credit our card so I would not have to make the trip back to Tuscaloosa.

When I think about it, it is the evil one trying to kill my joy and hinder my thoughts before I preach at a revival that night.  This frustration too shall pass.  I get to have my say Monday with the Customer Service manager who was conveniently out of town. 

Monday I could use the Scripture and use ekkopto as found in Matthew 5:30a, but it would not be my right hand.  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off . . .

So, until Monday, my thoughts will be on Exodus 14:14.

The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.