This is a photo I took at Costco a few days ago, and yes, it is a roasted chicken sitting on top of a case of beans. Obviously, this is not where the chicken belongs. It appears that someone changed his/her mind while shopping, and instead of returning the warm meat to its proper place, discarded it…well, wherever it was convenient.

L-A-Z-Y!

I imagine this poor chick had to be thrown away. And Costco will pass on the cost to us.

This behavior troubles me. It’s not the only one. Actually, many behaviors trouble me. The following is my short-list of irksome things people do:

• refuse to use designated, parking lot cart stalls
• tip cheaply
• announce ahead of time that they are paying the restaurant bill as a thanks for you hosting them for two weeks while covering every expense. (Had I wanted a steak, I for sure won’t order one now. “I would like a hamburger patty, water, and no dessert, please.”)
• answer their cell phone in church or a movie theater
• lie about their age to get a senior citizen discount
• don’t give the line call in pickleball
• show up in an express lane with items exceeding the maximum amount allowed
• fail to send some kind of a “thank you” (Unless they are mute and have no hands, there is NO excuse.)
• ignore RSVPs or RSVP to attend but then fail to show
• refuse to give up their seat to an elderly/disabled/pregnant individual
• leave roasted chicken sitting atop a crate of beans

Like I said, my short list.

One of Merriam’s definitions of Integrity is “moral soundness.” It means “doing the right thing.” Every day we are given choices to do just that. We are to put other peoples’ interests ahead of ours. In 2 Corinthians 8:21, Paul reminds us of how that looks: For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

I’m betting that this Costco culprit made sure no one saw him/her placing a chicken where it did not belong, disregarding the fact that God saw it. Still, I have to wonder how I would have reacted, had I caught the offender in the act (my chance not to act offensive but sensitive to their plight, you know).

I probably would have offered to take the chicken back where it belonged. In love, of course, because I am always thinking about the other person and not myself.

Always.

Yeah, let’s go with that.