Salvation Army Adventures Part 1

Today was a tough day at work for me. Thank goodness it was a short day and I got to leave at 3:00, I needed to get away!

I called 9-1-1 today. I am not going to say that I had to and now that I go over and over the scenario in my head I really wish I would not have. Not because I got in trouble or anything but, because I really believe that I could have dealt with the situation SO much better.

Without further adieu here is what happened:

Captain T was in his office with the door shut talking to a relatively insane lady. My coworker and I were in my office counting money when this gentlemen comes in. Now, we know this guy...he has come in before and the only way I know how to explain it is that he gives off a really creepy vibe. He is homeless although you would never be able to tell because he keeps himself very clean and presentable. Previous employees have warned me about him as he tends to come in and sit in the lobby of the Corps. and stare at you through the window making you very uncomfortable.

So, anyway he comes in and asks if he can use the bathroom. If it was just me he was asking I would have let him use the bathroom without issue. I tend to do whatever I can to appease someone just long enough for them to get what they want and hopefully get out. But, my coworker decided to implement the lose policy we have about not allowing the public to use our restrooms. We have had issues with people using the bathrooms and vandalizing etc. Needless to say he did not take this information well and proceeded to become angry. He said that he goes to church here sometimes, which he does, and that he has talked to Capt. T, which he has and why is it that we cannot allow him to use the bathroom? He then asked to speak to Capt. T very upset that we were not allowing him the access he felt that he was entitled to. We told him that Capt. T was in a meeting right now and that if he wanted to talk to him he would have to wait for him. He was more than willing to wait for him while standing in the middle of my office door way disgusted by our bathroom policy. Of course he had time to wait, what else was he going to do?

I asked him if he would like to have a seat in the lobby and wait for Capt. T but he responded that he would rather stand in the doorway. My coworker then told him that we were counting money and that he really did need to go and wait in the lobby for security purposes. He did so begrudgingly and then proceeded to intimidate me by staring at me through the window while making faces. I stared back, not backing down! He was very belligerent and angry and I was pissed and a little scared. I looked at my coworker and said I think I am going to call the police. She agreed and I dialed. I did tell him I was going to call the police and he LOVED that! The police came escorted him away and that was that.

What I am having a problem with is this guy was really intelligent. Almost like one of those people that is SO smart that he cannot have a 'normal' life. He was saying, while waiting for the police, if calling the police is something Jesus would have done. I thought about this and thought that there might have been a few occasions that if the 9-1-1 option was there, Jesus might have called! Needless to say I had to question whether calling the police was necessary and would Jesus have called the police. He called my Christianity into question and thought that I should be fired because what kind of Christan calls the police on someone who wants to use the bathroom?

So, I have been wrestling all day about it and feeling bad and convicted. That is why I am working at the Salvation Army to reach out to people just like him and what do I do to minister...call the police and have him escorted off the property. What a dummy I am!