The Unseen Encounter in the Lobby
A man in a sharp navy pinstripe suit pushes past an older gentleman holding a coffee cup in a marble-floored lobby. The man in the suit stops, turns, and addresses the other person with a pointed finger. His chin tilts upward as he speaks.
The man in the suit adjusts his patterned tie, his eyes scanning the other man’s simple white shirt. He makes a comment about the older man being in the wrong place, suggesting he is only there for a parking ticket. He gestures toward the hallway with his hand.
The older man standing in line takes a slow, deliberate sip from his coffee cup. He holds the cup with both hands and looks directly at the man in the suit. When the man in the suit finishes speaking, the older man offers a brief, steady response.
A female officer in uniform walks into the frame and stands beside the two men. She looks at the older man and addresses him as your honor. She informs him that the courtroom is ready for his presence whenever he chooses to walk through the doors.
The Shift in the Courtroom
The man in the suit walks into the courtroom and stands before the bench. His eyes widen as he processes the scene in front of him. He keeps his mouth slightly open, his gaze locked on the figure sitting behind the wooden desk.
The judge sits with his hands clasped together, resting on the top of the bench. He wears a black robe and looks down at the man standing in the courtroom. He speaks in a calm, measured tone, confirming the man’s earlier behavior in the lobby.
The man in the suit shifts his weight from one foot to the other. He looks down at the desk in front of him, then glances back up toward the bench. His shoulders drop and his posture loses the rigidity it held only moments before.
The man leans forward slightly, his hands resting on the wooden table. He speaks quietly, looking directly at the judge. He acknowledges his behavior in the hallway and states that he was wrong for the way he acted.
A Lesson in Character
The judge watches the man, his fingers interlaced tight against the wood. He explains that the way a person treats those they view as below them reveals everything about their character. He remains seated, his expression unchanging as he speaks.
The judge reaches for his wooden gavel sitting on the desk. He taps it once against the block, the sound echoing through the room. He tells the man he is going to be given a fair hearing, even though that same courtesy was not extended to him in the lobby.
The man in the suit blinks rapidly. He remains still, his head tilted slightly as he listens to the words from the bench. He keeps his hands gripped on the edge of the courtroom table, his knuckles pale.
The judge lowers his gaze back toward the papers on the desk. He clears his throat and prepares to begin the proceedings. The man in the suit stands motionless, his eyes fixed on the judge as the room remains quiet.
Share this with someone who needs to be reminded that respect is for everyone. It is a powerful lesson in character.