I grew up in a retail environment. I couldn't help it. My Dad was in the hardware business almost all of his adult life, and the lessons he learned he passed on to me. He worked in the central organization of Coast-To-Coast Stores, and in the latter part of my high school years I worked in one of the stores until I left for college in another city.
So, what does this have to do with spirituality? Perhaps more than some folks want to admit. The secret to success in being in the retail business is to not only persuade the customer to buy this time, but to come back again to buy some more. And for the customer, the secret is to get the best possible deal consistently so that you get what you want without going broke. Now, does that sound like it might have a parallel in the stuff we're talking about?
This episode was inspired by a recent visit to a deli which I regularly frequent. And this time, the lady in front of me was someone whose knowledge of cheese was there was "white cheese" and there was "yellow cheese", or so it seemed. It reminded me of the person who asked for "bolts" with no appreciation of how many kinds of bolts there are, or the person who asked for "a thingamabob about so long...." And after the deli clerk had served the lady her "white cheese", he and I had a nice chat comparing notes. Can you see how something there might relate to how to use prayer effectively? I knew which kind of cheese I wanted, right down to the brand - much easier for him to get me what I really wanted. Oh, and of course it heled to let him know that I had an appreciation of what he did. And I come there regularly enough that he knows me. Do you think that helps?
Do you think there's a lesson here for our spiritual lives? Watch and see!
