Jesus Pins at Wal Mart

At least half of my trips to Wal Mart have some component of emotional turmoil. If I'm angry after a long night at work, I go to Wal Mart. If I'm lonely, I go to Wal Mart. If I've tried on five outfits and don't like how I look in any of them, I go to Wal Mart. Any time I'm stressed out, depressed, or overwhelmed, I end up wandering the one place that has clothes, shoes, books, movies, art supplies, and chocolate all at the same time.

After wandering aimlessly for up to two hours (yes, there are easily two hours worth of things to look at in Wal Mart) and about twenty bucks later, it's time to check out. This usually occurs after a substantial amount of stalling. These Wal Mart trips are spent with my eyes down and taking detours that keep to the empty aisles, so the cashier is the only person that I have to face on these escapades.

Some of the cashiers at Wal Mart have lanyards that they use to display various pins. One in particular features a popular image of Christ with the words "Turn On the Light." I still have yet to find a male cashier wearing one of these pins, but the topic of male leadership in the modern church is for another blog post.

I've come to the conclusion that God uses these pins for me the same way a close friend uses hugs, but it's not the pins themselves. The women who wear these pins are almost always beaming with a bright and genuine joy, and they take an obvious interest in every single customer that passes through their lane. Their greeting isn't a muttered "Hi, how are you today?" because that's what they're supposed to say, but rather they really want to know how I am because they are interested in me as a person. They are willing to strike up conversation. They look at me like I'm a person with a life and a soul instead of a customer who needs to fork over x amount of money and get out of the store. Every single time that I walk out of Wal Mart after checking out with one of these women, my head is held higher, my eyes are up, and I can genuinely smile at the greeter on my way out.

I finally commented on the pin a while back while I was grabbing poster board for my Cubbie class. I had entered the store slightly frazzled, trying to make it from work to Cubbies on time while attempting to put aside the distracting thoughts of how alone I was in so many things. This particular cashier's smile got even wider. "I take it you know Him, then?" she asked excitedly. By the time I left, my eyes were up and I was reminded that I wasn't alone.

So this blog post is to the women at Wal Mart who refuse to hide their faith and insist on showing love to even the quiet college student who passes through their aisle. What if we all could show that kind of love to the strangers we encounter?

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I've been talking a lot about identity in the past couple posts. Just in case some of you missed the memo, I have taken my ramblings on that topic and actually organized them and started up a separate blog. There was just so much to learn and too much to share that I wanted somewhere more focused to put it all. If you're interested, feel free to check it out here!!! You haven't missed much yet, and I'd be excited if you'd like to join me on my journey!