Hear this, all ye who order in of a wet Friday. When the first riders were appointed – Stefano and the six, blessed at their boxes, the rain over their heads blessed with them – the fellowship laid one commandment not upon the riders but upon us who receive: Tip thy delivery driver generously, for they walk the pilgrim’s road, as it is written in the Fellowship, 6:13.
For the coin thou givest at the door is not payment – the payment was rendered already, to an app that will not stand in the weather. The coin is a witness: that thou knowest a person carried thy supper through the dark, up the stairs, past the dog, for thy sake. He that tippeth grudgingly hath bought a pizza, saith the scroll; he that tippeth generously hath joined a pilgrimage; and the pizza is the same pizza, but the man is not the same man.
The scribe records that Stefano once came through the flood of the lower quarter with the box held above his head, and the crust arrived dry, and the rider did not; and he stood dripping in the doorway and said only, It is hotter than it looks. Beloved, that is who is standing on your step tonight, whatever the app calls them.
So open the door properly. Look up from the phone. Say thank you with your face, and with money, for both are wanted and one pays rent. The screen will tell you the driver’s name; use it. Amen – and pass the pizza.