On the other side of town, there was another Gulf station, also in a neighborhood, but also on route 22, at the time one of the busiest highways in the US of A. Two guys I knew, Roger and Jimmy, were the night shift, and after getting kicked out of Bowcraft, we would venture across 22 and hang out there. And as we got older, this being a true service station, would bring our cars there to change the oil, balance tires, and do whatever else we could to them-without doing too much damage. It was owned by a man named Bart, who for whatever reason left these two in charge at night, and which left the door open for about six of us to hang out. Eddie, Brains, Spanky, Arnold the A%$^, and Gary who was too tall for the Navy would hang there. In return for letting us use the lift, we would do chores for Jimmy, while Roger would help us work on our cars. And we had some interesting cars to work on.
Jimmy was building a 55 Chevy with a tilt hood-it was fast, and painted Krylon flat black. Roger had a cherry 1966 Cutlass was Cragar SS, and sometimes Bruce Hill would stop by in his 1962 Fairlane, named the Patricia 2. When asked why he named his first car Patricia 2, he explained his girlfriend was Patricia 1-who could argue with logic like that? Plus he was state heavy weight wrestling champ! I had my parent's Pinto, and Spanky would drive his brother Willard's 66 GTO convertible-Willard was in Nam, and Spanky was only 15-not old enough to drive. Sometimes he would drive his own Renault Dauphine, with the black spray painted interior with silver stars- crude combination of French automobile and too little parental attention. We were borderline harmless, but oft time would cross the border, only to hurry back to safety before parents or police intervened.
Now Jimmy and Roger always talked badly of Bart. When they should have been thankful they even had jobs, as knowing them from school they weren't going to win any scholastic achievement awards. And they were always thinking of ways to cheese him off, and one night pulled off the perfect crime. The station had one of those old, low cash registers with he hand crank to open the drawer, and we all had access to it-and honestly never abused it when making change for the pop machine. But one night, after closing, the two took the cash register-but left the money. I had been there during practice runs, and they would leave all the coins and cash piled up just like they were in the register-except there was no register. And this is what Bart found one morning when he arrived to work. Which put him in an interesting situation, do I call the cops and report that my cash register was stolen? But how do I tell them they left the money? I could hear the Scotch Plains cops now, telling the story today, as it would have become an urban legend. But I believe Bart did the correct thing, and took the easy way out-he bought a new register, never mentioned a thing, but showed up every night for about a month, forcing us to flee to the pizza parlor after being run out of Bowcraft, while I'm sure his profits rose-all to the enjoyment of Jimmy-Roger just complained because he was half way through some engine work, and this curtailed it. But they had pulled of the perfect crime! How many cash registers have you ever heard of being reported stolen?
But they had violated a trust with Bart, and things went down hill fast from there. So I got a girlfriend, and all was well, actually better. But I am reminded of how a business man and the trust was broken. Now not much is ever said about the innkeeper when telling the story of the good Samaritan, we always concentrate on him, and how we was more compassionate than the others. Even getting a room for the beaten man, paying for it, but instructing the innkeeper to take care of him, and he would settle up next time through. Now maybe this good Samaritan was a regular, had good credit, and could be trusted. But the innkeeper was also a "good Samaritan"-he took care of the man. Yes, maybe just for profit, as a good businessman should, but he trusted the Samaritan to return, not knowing if he would be compensated. Maybe not as altruistic, but he showed faith and trust taking care of the beaten man. And without him the story would have had a different outcome. Maybe the owner, or just a night clerk, but he showed faith in taking care of a stranger, from another stranger-hoping the bill would be paid! It took two men, each doing what needed to be done, working together. A lesson we should remember, as sometimes God only wants us to do one step, and them pass the job onto another. Now, Route 22 may not have been the Bloody Road that the Samaritan found the beaten man on, but at that Gulf station I wonder if the beaten man would have been welcome. Or if they would have taken the money to assist, it never seeing the inside of the register? Fortunately, these two men had a trust, hopefully one not broken like at the station.
Today I can guarantee that someone will upset you, cheese you off, and want you will want to seek revenge-even if you do just by calling him names. Don't! Leave the cash, and the register alone. Although a funny story, and entered into the urban legend status, take the time to be known as the good innkeeper-the proper employee, and do the right thing. Remember Samaritans were looked down on-despised actually, but this one showed true character. Show compassion today, and you will find those around you will also. Plus it will be shown to you. But better yet, be an innkeeper, and when someone entrusts you with something valuable, don't betray that trust. Honor both the trust, and the person who entrusted you with it. And by doing so show compassion, just like Jesus shows for you. How many times a day does He show mercy? Every time, I believe.
Only God knows the true story behind the great cash register robbery. Be an innkeeper tonight to someone, as He knows your heart also. Full service isn't only for gas stations, but should be part of every Christians life. And a fair deal is where both parties benefit. Take that one to the bank, just be careful, and make sure the register is secure. Much better to be secure in Jesus. For He is no urban legend, but the truth!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
