On my way home tonight, I stopped at my local supermarket. I needed Sgt. Baxter Chow and some half & half for my coffee in the morning. The dairy case was devoid of half & half. As luck would have it, a store clerk walked by. I noticed immediately that he was clutching some sort of Bible study guide and a well-worn Bible in one arm, and a couple of store items in the other. He was wearing his work apron still, but I surmised he might have just clocked out for the evening. Believing this, I still asked him as he passed if he knew if any half & half was in the cooler, awaiting display in the case. Instead of stopping and engaging in conversation, he simply grunted something barely intelligible to the effect that he thought the store had been out of the product for a couple days. He didnt even slow his pace. He certainly didnt care to find out for sure. I didnt feel slighted. I understand the feeling following a long day at work and being faced with one more customer who just has to have his special item. Then again, I was feeling a little more empathetic than usual. And, in an instant, I wondered what if a non-believer had asked him the same question as I had. What would that have said about the Kingdom of God and His people? When holding such accoutrements, I would believe it would be incumbent upon him to at least regard the customer with a minimal level of courtesy. Again, I was okay -- but what if I had been an unbeliever looking for a reason to consider seeking Gods grace through the Christian faith? Let me assure everyone that I realize my foibles and shortcomings. I ruin the opportunity to be a good witness for Christ and His Kingdom in a unique way every day. But, I am mindful to not do so cloaked in the articles of a believer. For those who understand these things, I write this only as an encouragement to you and me. Let us be mindful of those strangers who might stop us in a store, ask for directions on a city street, or even engage us in conversation regarding something very personal to themselves. For instance, I met an elderly man earlier in the evening whose countenance exuded loneliness. He told me at great length that his wife of over sixty years had just divorced him over a man she had met on Facebook, of all places. The old man had just spent three months in the hospital to clear up an awful MSRA-type infection. His wife picked him up from the hospital, and in one week, drove them both to her divorce attorneys office. Tears welled in his eyes as he told me how she had been his whole life over the many decades. I listened dutifully, although my time was limited. My limited time, though, was well-spent, as by the time I left the elderly gentleman, he was smiling again. I dont say this for accolades. Ill reject them outright. Tomorrow, Im sure Ill bungle into a way to personally destroy my high-sounding words of encouragement. I mention this, again, because we have no idea what impact we can have on another persons life -- even on that of a total stranger. Please consider this when chance or fate crosses your path with a stranger.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 03:28:01 +0000
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