Interesting, isn’t it, the places people will go and the
things people will do to “get inspired.”
For many, inspiration comes from the Bible. As it ultimately
should.
For most women, teachers, and men who feel strong in their
manhood, inspiration comes Pinterest.
(Side note: After testing out a Pinterest idea of putting
brown sugar in my hair to “straighten” it and only coming away with sticky hair
and a leftover bottle of home-made ridiculousness, I suggest everyone proceed
on Pinterest with cautionary measures. I know I do. Now, anyway.)
For some, inspiration naturally flows from music or poetry
or nature or the like.
For others still, inspiration is birthed into their hearts
and lives through a heart-stirring story, an act of heroism, or a random act of
kindness experienced or observed.
If I’m being honest, I’ve been guilty of all of the above
ways to find ideas, get involved and interested in something beyond myself, and
become inspired by the creativity of others, my surroundings, and My Savior (the
Creator and Mastermind behind it all).
However, for me today, inspiration came from the most
unlikely of sources.
Wal-mart.
Yeah, you read that right.
While I’m taking you down this dirt road of unlikely chances
that people at places like Wal-mart can inspire you, let me just throw this at
you: did you know that Wal-mart’s slogan is “Save More. Live Better.”?
I’m afraid that all-too-often most people only obtain cheap
deals and collect there’s-no-possible-way-I-could-be-making-this-up kind of
stories and pictures from their Wal-mart trips. In other words, they only cash
in on the first part of Wal-mart’s slogan. “Save More.” Literally. They cash
in. Get it? :)
But not this girl. Not today, anyway. Today, I got the
privilege to experience the second half of that slogan as well. “Live Better.”
It’s a stretch, for sure, but stick with me for a moment.
So…..what in the world could’ve inspired me so much in
Wal-mart today? (You may be asking.)
Good question. The answer comes to us by way of a little
cashier man at register 7 named Gil.
Alright. Back up. Let me set the stage.
Setting: Wal-mart, enough said
Scenario: A woman, obviously wearing her cranky pants this
morning, was standing in front of me in line and had two VERY long and
complicated orders. (She may as well buy a tent for as long as she was deciding
to camp out at the register…. I almost suggested that very thing to her when…) Out
of nowhere, Cashier-Man-Gil entered the scene and stepped up to the plate to
make a homerun out of this situation.
Rather than get annoyed at this woman’s complications or
responding to her crankiness, Cashier-Man-Gil started singing. That’s right. He
started singing out her order to her. He sang the name of the products. He sang
out the prices of each individual item. Everything that passed through Gil’s
hands or through his line of vision quickly became a part in his ever-growing, impromptu,
sing-song-y, broken-English mantra. The woman, needless to say, was not
impressed. Apparently, her cranky pants were held up by some
you-can’t-make-me-satisfied suspenders because I don’t recall her ever cracking
a smile. I, on the other hand, was more than amused with Gil’s antics. I even
began to giggle. Loudly. This egged him on to sing more loudly, which I’m
certain didn’t help the whole situation.
But, what can I say? He humored me.
When it was finally my turn to be checked out, he thanked me
three times for “being patience” with him. I told him I thought he seemed to be
having a good day, and it was nice to see he was content with his job. Now that
I think back on it, I wonder how much he understood what I said, but I do
remember his reply. Handing me the receipt, he smiled back at me and simply
said, “You come back. I cannot WAIT to serve you again!” with all the sincerity
a voice could carry.
And as simple as that, I left Wal-mart a happy and inspired
woman. Today, I “Saved More” at Wal-mart (of course), but I also learned a
little bit more of what it means to “Live Better.“
All it took was a man, who could barely speak English, whose presence spoke, served, and sang the language of inspiration by just the
breath of who he was.
I wonder… who inspires you today?
What do they do that makes them inspirational to you?
What can you do to inspire those around you today?
It doesn’t take much. Much like the big, complicated
Wal-mart order that was turned into a party through Gil’s singing, remember
that the big things in life are always envelope-d by what you do with and how
you handle the small things in life.
As Christians, we have more than enough reason to encourage
and inspire those around us. This may or may not be the sort of thing Christ
was talking about in Matthew 5:14-16:
14 “You are the
light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone
light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives
light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
With all said and reviewed, do whatever you need to do to be an
inspiration to people today. Show the world a response that goes against the
grain and breathes new life into tough situations.
Our world needs more light.
Our world needs more love.
Our world needs more inspirational people singing at
register 7, figuratively speaking.
Shine your light by the way you live your life.
You never know whose life may be in need of a little inspiration
today.
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