Can't Complain....Right?

"I can't complain" is a common response to the question, "How's it going?" I hear it often enough that I deemed it blog-worthy. I asked a friend the other day how life's been treating them (I know this is a lame question because I really didn't care)? Anyway, their response to me was, "I can't complain." But immediately they proceeded to complain about their life situation, their kids, their company, the food they were eating and how busy there were that they barely had enough time to sit there and complain (I didn't invite them to sit, they decided to do so on their own volition). All I could think about was wait.......didn't you just say, "I can't complain"? And now you're complaining? And now I'm complaining because you duped me into thinking this would be a conversation I would actually like to have, but instead you lied to me and then proceeded to share things I couldn't care less about.

Don't get me wrong, I'd listen if I he had told me "not good", but I distinctly remember him telling me, "I can't complain". As I endured the agonizing 20-minute gripe fest, I began to think, when is it okay to complain? Complaining can be valid, but everyone hates listening to complainers (I know this to be true because my wife tells me all the time, which is probably why she walks away while I'm talking).

What justifies a valid complaint? I'm sure there are many things to complain about and we probably can justify every one of them. I think the most valid complaint is when you purchase something, have expectations of the item you purchased, and then those expectations go unmet. Anytime this occurs I think your complaint is valid. But what about when it's something you didn't purchase?

Case in point: I visited my "office" and ordered my regular items for the morning. The lady at the register had given one of those items to me for free (sweet, right?). The other item I actually paid for had been prepared in a way that didn't really meet my expectations (not good). Bewildered, I paused (This seemed like an eternity to me). Do I tell her it's not the way I like it? I mean she just gave the other item to me for free. Can I complain when she gave me the more expensive item for free? I stood there for a few seconds really perplexed (you would only understand if you knew how I am with my food). I looked up, smiled, and said, "thank you!"

My question: Can you complain in this situation? Is it wrong to complain for free stuff? When can you complain? What's your take on complainers? Are you a complainer? Please...feel free to complain. :)

It's On Me

Have you ever been out to grab a bite to eat and when finished ordering the cashier kindly says, "it's on me"? Forget that it is probably not ON them, but ON the company rather, and this act is undoubtedly considered stealing, but you reply, "Thanks" nonetheless.

I find that when you frequent certain places (which I never do) you get to know the personnel really well and they almost become like friends who you don't have to call (ever) or even remember their name (because it's on their shirt). As a matter of fact you don't even have to go into deep conversation about anything that might drain you before you've wrapped your tourniquet and injected your morning crack.......i mean caffeine/sugar. It's almost the ideal friend situation. Except that we aren't friends. They know nothing about you. They barely know what you do for a living and some conversations are just repeats from yesterday. But what I find most amusing about this particular relationship (acquaintance) is that they value your business. Even if they are not the manager, or his/her assistant, they deem you deserving of a free beverage or free treat "on them". And even if you aren't deserving, they offer it to you regardless.

This week I visited my local eatery and for three days in a row I received something for free. I couldn't believe it! I responded with gratitude because there was nothing I did to deserve this gift. They don't know me, they probably don't even know my name, but they fed me and gave my drink when I thirsted and not just once, but multiple times.

I'm always searching for deeper meaning when there is no depth to a situation (which is why i bump my head a the bottom of the pool), but in this particular case I wasn't even searching and there God reminds me that he's given me something greater than anything in the world. Tomorrow is Good Friday. God the Father deemed it necessary because of sin, because of my depravity to offer the gift of His Son. I'm in no way trying to downplay this most tragic, yet beautiful event by comparing it to my free beverage and treat. But the similarity between of the two speak very clearly to me. I'm so not deserving, but God offered His Son. I'm so not deserving, but Jesus offered up His own life.

"He gave up his life because He willed it, when He willed it, and as He willed it." - Augustine

It's like he said, "It's on me!" When i really consider this act of love it becomes too unbearable for me to handle. My only hope is that I respond appropriately with my life.