Horrible, you say?
Not so fast!
After all, the State of Texas invited to return in person to renew my permit because I had lived so long since I last renewed on line!
Beats the obvious alternative, right?
But, I have to be honest. The first 90 minutes in that space drove me crazy. Waiting on a terribly uncomfortable chair as a recorded voice barked out numbers in the queue. As the announced numbers droned on, I could calculate my wait time, and my reality was not pretty!
Then, something snapped for me.
The people.
The way beyond beauty of that crowded room slapped me in the face.
Old.
Young.
Grandparents and children.
Eager teens.
Working people.
Unemployed.
Professionals.
White.
Black.
Brown.
Every human hue.
Every ethnicity.
So many nationalities, I felt like I was in the middle of Pentecost! That's right! If you want to experience modern day Pentecost, go spend a day in the DMV! You'll have it right there in your face!
I watched as community formed before my eyes as we shared our common plight. People actually started talking to one another. Sharing. Encouraging. Even, laughing!
People helped each other. People began to identify with the place, and their presence and position in it.
I saw the hope of the nation displayed in the lives assembled at random in that room.
The USA's power is found in its diversity. Who would choose uniformity over the richness of our national mixture?
Its hope discovered in how we take care of one another.
Our peace will be unearthed together, never apart.
I say go to the DMV.
You'll find your people waiting for you there!
And who knows. Pentecost might just break out!
