A Small Difference

I know a retired chaplain who works not too far away bagging groceries for a large supermarket. He considers this his ministry. And the smile, the thoughtful words of encouragement are how he lives into that ministry. He also makes it a point to pray for every person who passes through the checkout where he works. No one knows this is his ministry. Or do they? Perhaps there is a reason why folks prefer being in the line where he’s bagging their items.

How many encounters do you have in a typical day? More than you might first think. There are the people in line with you at a store. The folks you pass in a parking lot coming or going. The person next to you at a red light. The list just gets longer of the people whose day you can effect for the better. A smile works wonders. A kind word is even better. But how about letting that Mom with the baby she’s trying to handle get ahead of you at the grocery store? It adds two minutes to your time on line, but decreases her stress in greater measure.

It’s about using small encounters, the briefest of exchanges, to create a real connection with someone else.

Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor