The morning was warm but not hot, the sun was up, and the day was off to a good start. After breakfast in the hotel on this particular morning I decided to go for a walk. I had a couple of hours before my first meeting, or at least I thought, so a fifteen-minute walk would be good. As I entered the hotel parking lot near the end of my walk, my first meeting was about to take place. A small white car approached from the hotel parking lot. There was no one in the car except the driver, a woman I had never met. With her window down she slowed and pulled to a stop when her car reached where I was.
There were a couple of traveling teenage girl basketball teams staying at the hotel, so I assumed this was the mother of one of the players. Expecting her to ask for directions to some local eatery or store, I stopped when she stopped her car across the drive from me. Her question was of a different sort than I anticipated. Very congenially she inquired, “How far do you walk each morning?”
“I don’t walk every morning. I should. I’m just out for a little walk this morning.”
She nodded demonstrating that she understood. “Do you live here?” she inquired.
I thought this was a little strange, since ‘here’ was a hotel; not the Hilton, but not a rent by week place either. “No.” was my one word reply.
“Are you married?” was her next question. (An unusual question from the parent of a teenage basketball player.)
Raising my left hand to show my wedding band I proclaimed, “Yes I am.” Mind you, I am still standing 10-15 feet across the drive from the car.
“Well. I better let you go. Don’t want to get you in trouble with your wife.” The woman stated.
As I started to walk away, I probably gave the worst reply possible. “That’s okay.” And I turned to walk away.
I hadn’t taken two steps when she vocalized her next question “Is your wife with you?”
And so I realize, Okay, this is no basketball mom. (I catch on quick) But I answered anyway. “No, she’s at home.”
This woman had two more questions for me. How long are you here, and her final question, “Do you want some company?”
There was no hesitation in my voice, nor in my step as I walked away with this plain and matter of fact answer. “No, Absolutely not.” As I (quickly) walked toward the front doors of the hotel, the woman in the little white car casually drove off, likely looking for her next target. Just as quickly as it began, the first meeting of my day was finished – and I was glad it was over.
That was a first for me. I have never before been propositioned and I pray it is also the last time. Yes, I told my wife about it that afternoon.
Life is full of unexpected situations and offers. You will always act out of your core values, those beliefs you hold so deeply that they cannot be deterred. Do you know your core values? What do you do on a regular basis to strengthen your core values those deeply held beliefs? Continually working to build and strengthen your deepest core values will benefit you in everyday life and especially in times when you find yourself in a situation you did not see coming.
For more information on how to discover and develop your core values contact George Yates (no propositions please) and visit SonC.A.R.E. Ministries.