Today, I went to lunch with one of my professors at a little dive of a mexican food place in here in Provo. It didn't even have a sign out front and our group was the first customer of the day. (The food was really good and super CHEAP- I am definitely going back.) In our MBA section, we decided that we would get groups of students together to take professors out to lunch and get to know them a little bit better. It was a really enjoyable experience and I learned a lot about my fellow classmates and Dr. Bingham. I have been thinking all day long about one of the experiences that he shared with us. He said that after he had received his masters degree at the U and worked for a few years, he decided to go back and get his PhD at Texas A&M. He had a few months after quitting his job before he needed to be in Texas to start school. He really wanted to take a job for a few months where he could learn a lot of valuable life lessons and also gain more insights about human nature. His first pick was to work at McDonalds, but he actually ended up as a doorman at the Grand America hotel in SLC. There he was, holding a masters degree and ready to begin a PhD program working as a doorman. He said that he was constantly amazed at the way people would treat him. They had no idea who he was or what he was doing with his life, but they looked at him as if he were nothing and definitely was beneath them. He said that one time, a really nice sports car pulled up to the hotel and out stepped a friend of his from high school. The guy threw the keys at him and, with his nose up, started walking into the hotel without paying any attention to the man who was going to be moving his car. When the guy finally did notice Dr. Bingham, he looked at him with this horror on his face and said, "Uhhh, I didn't know that YOU work here". I was really impressed with the insights that my professor had about the honor of work and how each person deserves to be respected for who they are and not for what they do or what their title is.
I have been thinking about this most of the day and reflecting on the way that I have treated people throughout my life. I have a stronger resolve to try to see people as the Lord sees them and recognize the good and potential in everyone. I am really glad that I got to have lunch with Dr. Bingham today. Although he may not even realize it, he impacted my life and helped me want to be a better person. That is just one example of the great people and professors that I am surrounded with daily. They definitely enhance my perspective and push me to be better.
3 comments:
great insight. I think a lot of times we take things like this for granted...everyone deserves to be treated with respect, even the people taking our fast food orders!
Very cool. I love it that your professor was humble enough to try to put himself in the shoes of others. It sounds like something the Savior would have done, had He been here. He had all knowledge, wisdom, and power; yet, he chose to associate with "the least of these." How often do we do that? Thanks for giving me something great to think about on the Sabbath day!
That is so COOL! I think that we really do need to look at people with respect no matter their "station" in life!! You are wonderful! Thanks for the reminder!
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