Retail isn’t exactly the restaurant business.
While we do close an hour early on Sundays and make announcements informing guests to “please make their final selections and make their way to the registers located at the front of the store”, we usually don’t have any problems. This past Sunday night however, we ran into an individual who left a sour taste in the mouths of quite a few of my co-workers.
She was old, nice and very polite… and unfortunately it started to rub off when 20 minutes after the store was closed she was still sorting through her cart at the checkout lane, trying to determine what it was she actually needed. While trying to make sure she had the correct colors, what put everyone over the edge was the tax-exempt form… for her CHURCH!
Now we have a great team and everyone responded wonderfully. There was no issue with guest service or satisfaction, but the comments that were made after-the-fact were unfortunate.
“Reminds me of the after church crowd from when I used to wait tables…”
“I hate it when church people are that inconsiderate” Is that the kind of “church person” that I am?
If we are to “bear witness” in our home towns as well as to to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) and all we’re doing is reinforcing the stereotypes already held by unChristians, how effective are we really being?
Maybe you’re thinking “Cut her some slack!” or “Where’s your grace?” Unfortunately this blog is a one-sided, introspective commentary, so I need you to believe that I did extend grace to her. It’s not a rant about how an elderly lady was trying to get something for her church and made me late getting home. I get it, but it’s not me I’m worried about…
I wonder on a daily basis, how many people run into this type of thing with an identifiable Christian. I wonder what kind of impact it has.
I had a glimpse into the impact it had on our team Sunday night… and even then I could tell the responses were “monitored” because people know I’m one of those Christians too…
MATTHEW 5: 14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
There wasn’t a whole lot of “praising the Father in heaven” on Sunday night in our store. In fact, nobody was real interested in going to her church (or any other) any time soon.
I received invaluable insight into the perspective of unChristians who don’t “owe” Christians any grace at all, and once again learned another lesson in “what not to do”.
And that’s right on target.
Thanks for joining me on T-Time… Shine on!
While we do close an hour early on Sundays and make announcements informing guests to “please make their final selections and make their way to the registers located at the front of the store”, we usually don’t have any problems. This past Sunday night however, we ran into an individual who left a sour taste in the mouths of quite a few of my co-workers.
She was old, nice and very polite… and unfortunately it started to rub off when 20 minutes after the store was closed she was still sorting through her cart at the checkout lane, trying to determine what it was she actually needed. While trying to make sure she had the correct colors, what put everyone over the edge was the tax-exempt form… for her CHURCH!
Now we have a great team and everyone responded wonderfully. There was no issue with guest service or satisfaction, but the comments that were made after-the-fact were unfortunate.
“Reminds me of the after church crowd from when I used to wait tables…”
“I hate it when church people are that inconsiderate” Is that the kind of “church person” that I am?
If we are to “bear witness” in our home towns as well as to to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) and all we’re doing is reinforcing the stereotypes already held by unChristians, how effective are we really being?
Maybe you’re thinking “Cut her some slack!” or “Where’s your grace?” Unfortunately this blog is a one-sided, introspective commentary, so I need you to believe that I did extend grace to her. It’s not a rant about how an elderly lady was trying to get something for her church and made me late getting home. I get it, but it’s not me I’m worried about…
I wonder on a daily basis, how many people run into this type of thing with an identifiable Christian. I wonder what kind of impact it has.
I had a glimpse into the impact it had on our team Sunday night… and even then I could tell the responses were “monitored” because people know I’m one of those Christians too…
MATTHEW 5: 14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
There wasn’t a whole lot of “praising the Father in heaven” on Sunday night in our store. In fact, nobody was real interested in going to her church (or any other) any time soon.
I received invaluable insight into the perspective of unChristians who don’t “owe” Christians any grace at all, and once again learned another lesson in “what not to do”.
And that’s right on target.
Thanks for joining me on T-Time… Shine on!