Every Tuesday my staff and I go to lunch. It is creatively called the “STAFF LUNCH.” I instituted staff lunch several years ago for the purpose of bonding. We rarely talk about ministry issues or projects. We just hang out and always laugh. My guess is that Staff Lunch will be a foundation for many future blogs. (Johnny, our Worship and Senior Adult Pastor, always provides me the opportunity to exercise my creative mind in coming up with food concoctions for him to eat. Another time…another blog.)
Anyway, this past Tuesday the boys and I went to Chick-fil-a for Staff Lunch. We had a good time, though I was extremely disappointed that Johnson did not accept my challenge. Nothing gross, I just wanted him to climb to the top of that play thing they got in there and slide down the slide. So what if the manager was watching. Who cares if there were 12 kids in there with double that many parents eagle-eyeing them? Alas, Johnny refused the challenge. That may have been the first time ever he has opted out, so I won’t go too hard on him.
As we are leaving the restaurant I go to put on my shades and they break. I was so disappointed. I had actually paid $10 for these…they were high class!! Huge step up from the ones I used to get at the Dollar Tree. So, I had the boys drive me to a nearby Walmart. I make the statement, “You can just drop me off and wait in the car…but don’t leave me.” Then I thought about it. “You know, if you did leave me, I bet I could find a ride with someone I know within 30 minutes.” You see, it is very rare for me to go to Walmart and not see someone I know. The more I thought about it, the more my faith and courage grew.
That’s it. Leave me here. You go on back to church. I will have a ride within 30 minutes, with someone I know! The Walmart Challenge had been inaugurated. I walk into the store and immediately go to the bathroom. “Lord, I just need to go take care of business. I really don’t want to meet my ride in the bathroom!” As I come out, I run into a lady that has been visiting with us at church. If you are counting, that means I ran into someone familiar within approximately a minute and a half. We talk for a minute. A lady alone. Her name escaped me at that moment. Nah, I am going to pass. There will be someone else.
I get my new shades and some shampoo (I know my head is shaved, but it is a habit and I like it 
). So begins the search. At the 8 minute mark, I spot them. Crystal and Cory Giffin along with Brayden, their 4 year old daughter, riding in the cart. “HEY!” So we chat for a moment. Then, “So, uh, would you mind giving me a ride back to the church?” They agree with confused looks on their faces. I explain the challenge and they start laughing. Who would have guessed it? I had my own personal Good Samaritans within 8 minutes! I am just thankful that I did not have get the snot beat out of me to find them. I did have to wait on them while they shopped but I didn’t mind. Mission accomplished.
The Walmart Challenge: Stage 2 will be to get a ride with someone I don’t know and use the ride to share my story. Stay tuned in!
Posted in Bill's Journey
