Meditation, a Whopper, and Four Words of Wisdom: Make Good Choices

Tonight, I went to a meditation meeting.

It’s a new meeting, and this was my first time attending. I’d heard awesome things about it; I knew the person guiding the group, and after the last few months—and especially the last week—I figured, why not?

I could probably use a little more conscious contact with the Spirit in the Fourth Dimension to help me be of maximum use to all humanity.

Apparently, immediately afterward, humanity was waiting for me at Burger King.

The meeting ended at 8:00 p.m., which was already way past dinner for me. I hadn’t eaten lunch either.

Correction.

I had half of a King Size Kit Kat bar for lunch.

So, nutritionally speaking, I was thriving.

I was going to make my usual Harris Teeter stop, but then I saw Burger King.

The King was calling.

I safely crossed two lanes of traffic to make the left because, at that particular moment, I wanted to have it my way.

I ordered a Whopper Jr., fries, and—of course—a Coke Zero. I also ordered a Rodeo Burger because I love the onion rings and BBQ sauce combo.

I was sitting there waiting for my food when I heard someone yelling.

I looked ahead, and this dude was waving his hands, obviously trying to get my attention.

I don’t remember everything he said before this, but I definitely heard:

“I just got out of the pen, and I’m hungry.”

I assumed by “the pen,” he meant prison.

Well.

Welcome back to society. Apparently, I was his Burger King ambassador.

The timing was also interesting.

I had recently talked with Sam Taylor (https://www.facebook.com/sam.peralta.18041), someone I previously led on a Learning & Development team, about my dating adventures—including the woman who wanted help paying her rent and then, after one date, her phone bill.

Sam and I talked about something we both tend to do: we don’t typically hand people money, but we’re willing to buy something they need.

That has generally been one of my boundaries.

I’ve also had a roommate who frequently said:

“I’m one paycheck from being homeless.”

I’ve never forgotten that.

I get it.

Part of my recovery is trying to be useful to other people while still maintaining boundaries.

So I told the guy I’d buy him something to eat.

I got my meal and tried to get the attention of the Burger King drive-thru dudes, who, by the way, were really nice.

I asked if I could order another meal.

Nope.

Apparently, once I reached the window, the sacred Burger King ordering process couldn't be disturbed.

I had to drive around again.

That seemed ridiculous.

But okay.

I asked the guy what he wanted to drink.

“Sprite.”

I told him:

“Don’t move. I have to drive around again.”

He started thanking me and told me he had a gift for me.

I immediately said:

“It’s all good, sir. No gift.”

Meanwhile, inside my head, several possibilities were being considered as to exactly what kind of “gift” a guy who had just gotten out of the pen might be planning to give me.

I decided I was good.

No gift necessary.

I drove around Burger King again, ordered him a Whopper meal with a Sprite, paid, got the food, and pulled forward to hand it to him.

He thanked me and told me he would “pay me back on the back end.”

I’m pretty sure I’m never going to see this guy again.

And that’s okay.

I didn’t buy him dinner because I expected him to pay me back.

Before I drove away, I left him with four words:

“Make good choices.”

He looked at me and said:

“Those are some words of wisdom. Make good choices.”

I wished him luck and drove away.

Then I ate my fries.

For me, that was the unexpected lesson at the end of tonight’s meditation.

I didn’t solve someone’s life. I didn’t give away everything I had. I didn’t abandon my boundaries.

I just bought a hungry stranger a Whopper and a Sprite.

I don’t know if he’ll remember the meal or those four words. I don’t know what happens next in his life.

I only know that tonight, he wasn’t hungry.

And tonight, I received another reminder that being of service doesn’t always happen where I expect it.

Sometimes I find the Spirit in the Fourth Dimension through meditation.

And sometimes...

I find it in the Burger King drive-thru.

I had it my way.

And hopefully, both of us will make good choices.