Thursday, Thanksgiving, November 27, 2008

Dearest God,

A trip to the grocery at 5:00 a.m. can be enlightening. One can find God in the aisles.

A young man in the baking supplies aisle was restocking the shelves. Looking a little weary, I stopped to talk. After all he had just helped me find the powdered milk. He had worked all night and was about to begin his second shift. When I asked what time he would get off, he said it would be late tonight. He acknowledged that a lot of people are working more in order to keep their jobs. I told him I would pray for him. He wished me a Happy Thanksgiving.

In the next aisle a young man with a long ponytail helped me too. I just didn't have much energy and wasn't able to find what I needed so he helped me too. Then he asked me if I knew the song that was playing. I told him I was familiar with the song but not the title. We decided that the words has something important to say. We listened. He said that there weren't any musicians like that any more. They will come if we just wait I responded. He smiled. He wished me a Happy Thanksgiving.

Throughout the store I talked with people and they talked with me. I think I was only one of three or four customers. I had to go through the self checkout or whatever it is called and I talked with a husband and wife who had a full cart. We too had a nice conversation and we wished one another a Happy day too.

And then I walked off with an empty cart. The wife called out to me not to forget my groceries.
If I had been in the store with long lines and no carts available, I would have missed these conversations. I think each one offered me something and I offered something as well. Perhaps we needed one another. Perhaps we needed you.

Lover of troubled souls,
I find you
in the every day aisles
of life.
You constantly
reveal yourself.
You tell me
you are nearby.
You speak
to all
your children.
Today I am
counting you
as my greatest gift.

Love, Andrea