SPIRITUAL ENCOUNTER...

I had to run up to the Super I Grocery Store to get a few things this morning. They play that "shopping music" up there on the loudspeakers. You know...The Beatles...Sam Cooke...Stevie Wonder...the occasional Perry Como, etc. But every once in a while when I'm shopping, I will hear a contemporary Christian song playing.

This morning, there was the prettiest worship song playing. It was something like, "Jesus, I love you with all of my heart. Jesus, I love you with all of my soul, and on and on." It was beautiful, and the old boy singing it had a set of pipes and a half! I wanted to commend Super I, because it is kind of brave of a store to bring spiritual music into a secular environment.

When I got up there to pay for my stuff, the little black cashier girl that I know and I visited for a minute. And I asked her, "Will you give the store manager a message for me?" "Sure," she said. "Would you tell him that I appreciate y'all playing a little bit of Christian music on the speakers. It is real uplifting to hear." Then I asked her if anybody ever complained...you know, somebody that ain't a Christian, or a Muslim, or something.

Now, this is the rednecky, conservative, Bible Belt South, but that don't stop folks from throwing a shoe about God and Jesus stuff. The Louisiana ACLU regularly bitches and moans about courthouse symbols & nativity scenes and such.

When I asked her if anybody ever complained, she got a scowl on her face, made a fist, slammed it down on the counter and said, "You know what I say? To hell wid'em!!! To hell wid'em!!! They need to hear it dammit!!!" I got to laughing so hard...and she got to laughing, too. After I quit laughing, I said, "Girl, I just got this 'warm feelin' all over! You're just all full of the love of Jesus today ain't you?" She hee-hawed, and repeated, "They need to hear it...dammit!"

I thanked her for the good laugh, and she said she had needed a good laugh today herself. I love Super 1 Foods, God bless 'em. And I really like this particular cashier gal. I would tell you her name, but might get her in trouble. I love Super 1 Foods...it's a toss-up between them and WalMart with me.