FOR ADAM: 10%

This story is about the one and only conversation that I had with Adam. I would like to pass this on because of his sudden and tragic death in Africa. If you would like to read more about who Adam was click on the title of this blog.

It's amazing how we affect people without even knowing that we have done so. If Adam were still alive and you were to ask him if he knows who Jeb is he would probably say, "that name sounds familiar, but the guy escapes me." Perhaps my conversation with Adam seemed to be a normal conversation to Adam but what he may not of realized is that it made an impact on how I live life today.

It was funny to be going skiing with only a jacket and some sweat pants but that was all I had on the day we took the Cascade College possible attendees to Mt. Hood for High School days. I was especially nervous because right behind me in the 15 passenger van was an avid skier, one who took the sport seriously. You could tell because he had all the gear and the look of tackling the mountain in his eyes.

My fears melted away quickly though as I said, "hello" to the man who's reputation preceded him. You see not only was this "the skier" He also was Ben Langford's Brother, and that was a big deal for some reason on Cascade's small campus. None the less Adam Langford greeted me back with an enthusiastic, "Hey I'm Adam."

As we made small talk about how little I knew about skiing and dressing appropriately for snow weather we had a very short conversation about Adam's Job. To be honest, I cant remember if he was working for Applebees or Newport bay, but I want to say Applebees because, well that's where everybody connected with Cascade college works. But perhaps he did work at Newport bay, but the place of where he worked at the time was not significant, it was the job he did. He was a waiter.

I asked Adam if he had had any interesting run-ins with customers. Adam said to me, "You worst run-in's I have had are actually with Christians, coming in to eat on Sunday mornings after church. They are some of the rudest to serve." I said, "Why whats the big deal?" Adam said, "Besides their rude behavior, whenever I wait on someone who bows their head to pray before they eat I know immediately that I am going to get a 10% or less tip." I said, "Well I guess that's not surprising we hardly give God 10% of our money, why would we give it to a waiter?" Wow! Life changing Jeb! I know it may sound insignificant, but what Adam did was teach me how to be "salt" in a restaurant.

Adam wasn't complaining about his compensations from Christians after he served them. Adam was telling me how people he works with who don't know Christ see a little bit of who Christ is "Suppose" to be in the people they wait on. AND THEY REALLY DIDN'T LIKE HIM!! I wouldn't want to follow this man named Christ either if his teachings were to be rude and stingy.

Every Wednesday I eat with some guys at Denny's. One time someone saw me writing my tip down for the waiter. They were flabbergasted that I would be giving someone a tip that was over 10%-15% of the bill. So I told him the story that Adam told me and said, "One time this guy told me that Christians were bad tippers, I don't want our waiters to think badly about Christ or Christians because of me."

When you read Adams last blog on the Jinja website you realize that it was all about being Christ to others no matter where you are at and no matter what you are doing.

God be with you Adam's family and loved ones. I know you love him very much. He died with much ahead of him. I live with much ahead of me. But Adams life says, time is short get busy.

My God comfort you.