Lettuce and Heat: FWP's
A few days ago I was in Chipotle using up a gift card I received for Christmas. The line was long, but since it would be free for me I decided to wait. When I finally got close to the ordering station I noticed a sign that read;
"Sorry we are out of lettuce and shredded cheese."
Apparently the weather and shipping delays kept them from having a full stock of condiments and other toppings. No big deal, right? For most of us the answer is "Yes, that's not a big deal." But for the man in front of me it was THE biggest deal. From the ordering station to the cashier he bemoaned the fact that there was no lettuce, and demanded that they have the manager to contact him about it.
The man made a spectacle of himself. The funniest part was when he was complaining to the lady who was wrapping the burrito in foil about the lack of lettuce. His burrito was so stuffed that there would've been no room for anything else, let alone lettuce. Yet he still complained.
When I got to the cash register the worker apologized profusely, having been freshly shaken from the complaining customer. I told her that lack of lettuce was a "First World Problem," and she shouldn't apologize for it.
Over the next few days I've used this man as an example of how privilege and entitlement has seeped into the fabric of our country. He, in my opinion, is what's wrong in society. Him, not me. That is until I joined him today.
This morning it was 2 degrees outside as I was going to work. I let my car warm for about 5 minutes before heading to work, but my the time I arrived at my job (after a 12 minute drive) the car was a little cold. I immediately cursed my 2003 Buick LeSabre. I felt as if I deserved comfortable heat and windows that defrost with little to no effort from me. And why shouldn't my seat massage my back as I drive; I deserve that, right?
You see heat was my lettuce, therefore I complained.
It's not surprising that those who truly suffer in our world and in our local communities do not receive the justice they deserve. For those of us who are in a position to best help them know justice are too busy thinking that they are the we who are actually suffering, that our first world problems actually deserve an audience. Don't get me wrong, FWP's are still problems, but they are the type of problems that should make a person realize how blessed they really are.
Sure you don't have lettuce but look at your burrito, it has almost everything else in it; It can also feed an entire family!
Sure your car heats slowly, but it heats, and it drives, and it's paid for! It's a blessing!
Shame on us when we let trivial things become major while allowing the major things become unseen.