Glorifying Christ One Blog at a Time
Language at Wal-Mart vs. Starbucks
If you know me at all, you know that I have this fascination with what is being done in the natural and how it mirrors the spiritual. Here is another example to demonstrate that.
I was sitting in the Wal-Mart parking lot yesterday. I am riding with my husband he is a service and salesman for a company that calls on independent meat markets, supermarkets and Wal-Marts. We were at a Spokane location and he had gone inside to do his job. That is how I ended up sitting there. I was prepared with laptop and bible in hand. I knew that he would be a while. I rolled down the windows in the van to get some ventilation as it was 85+ degrees outside, fortunately Rod had found a place in the shade against the sidewall of the store to park and it was a great place to people watch and well I got more than I bargained for.
People coming in and out of the store, they were spewing language that would mortify the ears of most any mom.
Two young men came back to their car parked on my left side. Apparently this car is a female dog at least that is what the one kept calling it. A few moments later two women came out to their vehicle parked a few cars over on my right. They had left a dog behind that has been barking the whole time they were in the store. The conversation they were having was certainly not one of edification. And then again more people this time a family. At least what one considers a family: A dad and a mom and a couple of children theirs was a discourse of cursing and put downs. Finally a mom with 3 boys and a smile on her face takes the corner and approaches the car. She comments on how good the boys have been and reminds them to get strapped in, a glimmer of hope now shines in the parking lot.
Well I have been sitting in the van for about an hour and a half and my legs are falling asleep. I spot a Starbucks at the other end of the parking lot and decide to pack up my computer and go for a little walk. The sun has come down some and so has the temperature it is about 7 p.m. and you can breathe a little easier outside.
I notice something as I leave the Wal-mart hub and enter into Starbuck land it is more peaceful here. Calm and I am not surrounded by anger and fowl language. I take my time sipping an ice water and charge up my battery while enjoying the music playing over head and continue with some more people watching as I type away on the keyboard. It is a pleasant atmosphere and brings some rest to my spirit.
Well I am back to the van now and have re-entered the land of unrest. My husband has completed his job and finishes up the paperwork so we can start to head back. It will be a long ride for us about 6 hours or so to get us over the pass and home to Puyallup. On our way I mention to him this odd contrast. The spiritual commotion at Wal-Mart really isn’t something new to us as we have already deemed it the “Crying Store” populated by the Walmartians. This is not meant as a slam, but just a way to describe the commotion we feel most every time we go there. Occasionally we enter one that has a calm spirit to it, but it is not a normal experience.
I asked him so what do you think the difference is between Wal-Mart and Starbucks? Of course we look at some of the obvious things like money, but I explain no it can’t be money because college kids and retired people frequent both. Single moms and high-school students and unemployed people as well.
What about location? No – that does not seem to be a reasonable explanation either. Neighborhoods of various cultures and economics have both stores and the experiences are similar.
What about how the stores got started? Well each were independent adventures that started out as one man’s dream and have grown not just to national recognition but even international acclaim. Both are incredible success stories. So, no, to that thought.
What about products that they sell? Hmm, each sells music. Both have coffee and sweets. Here is a kicker, well for me anyway, Starbucks sells a lot of carb-laden drinks and food, high in quality but produces that sugar hype and then crash. Wal-Mart carries some Starbucks stuff but also carries organic foods and things high in protein like cheese and meat that doesn’t usually promote a diabetic reaction. Funny Wal-Mart carries Starbucks stuff, but Starbucks doesn’t carry Wal-Mart stuff. Yet college students and the like can buy a product from Wal-Mart such as a laptop and then go to Starbucks to use the laptop. So it is not about products, or sugar crash, or even cross product selling or not.
Then what is it Lord? I know that there is something different between the two in the spiritual realm of things that produces the difference in attitude in the natural expression. “God, please reveal that to me.” is my prayer. It is now about 1 a.m. and we decide to pull over at a rest stop and take a quick snooze.
A cat nap does a body wonders when you have been doing so much driving. We wake up at about 3 a.m. get out and stretch our legs, use the bathroom, and then get back out on the road.
It hits me! What a simple and profound answer I get. Wow, thank you Lord for such a quick response. It is 3:16 a.m. on Friday morning the night is dark and the wind is cool but all is well in my soul as I ponder this wonderful answer.
Can you guess what it is? Are you even a bit curious?
Prayer.
Yep, it really is that simple. Consider this, how many bible studies, church groups, fellowship meetings, mentorships, pastoral counseling and the like goes on at a Starbucks? How many of those sessions open and close in prayer which I am certain from time to time include a blessing on that particular Starbucks location and the barista’s, other employees, and the people that frequent there.
Scientists and doctors agree that prayer makes a difference in the physical healing of a person. I am certain that it makes a difference for the spirit of a building as well. I wonder if Wal-Mart has ever considered providing an option that would facilitate bible study and prayer group meetings, and I wonder would the spirit of the culture there change?
As I mentioned earlier there are locations of Wal-Mart where the spirit is more peaceful, is that a location that has a higher percentage of Christian people employed there? Or maybe even that study or read their bibles there? Consider being mindful of this the next time you shop at Wal-Mart and remember this business and mostly the people in prayer. Let a simple act of faith bring peace to a place with great influence on our current culture. Consider Wal-Mart to be your newest mission field, just something to ponder.
I was sitting in the Wal-Mart parking lot yesterday. I am riding with my husband he is a service and salesman for a company that calls on independent meat markets, supermarkets and Wal-Marts. We were at a Spokane location and he had gone inside to do his job. That is how I ended up sitting there. I was prepared with laptop and bible in hand. I knew that he would be a while. I rolled down the windows in the van to get some ventilation as it was 85+ degrees outside, fortunately Rod had found a place in the shade against the sidewall of the store to park and it was a great place to people watch and well I got more than I bargained for.
People coming in and out of the store, they were spewing language that would mortify the ears of most any mom.
Two young men came back to their car parked on my left side. Apparently this car is a female dog at least that is what the one kept calling it. A few moments later two women came out to their vehicle parked a few cars over on my right. They had left a dog behind that has been barking the whole time they were in the store. The conversation they were having was certainly not one of edification. And then again more people this time a family. At least what one considers a family: A dad and a mom and a couple of children theirs was a discourse of cursing and put downs. Finally a mom with 3 boys and a smile on her face takes the corner and approaches the car. She comments on how good the boys have been and reminds them to get strapped in, a glimmer of hope now shines in the parking lot.
Well I have been sitting in the van for about an hour and a half and my legs are falling asleep. I spot a Starbucks at the other end of the parking lot and decide to pack up my computer and go for a little walk. The sun has come down some and so has the temperature it is about 7 p.m. and you can breathe a little easier outside.
I notice something as I leave the Wal-mart hub and enter into Starbuck land it is more peaceful here. Calm and I am not surrounded by anger and fowl language. I take my time sipping an ice water and charge up my battery while enjoying the music playing over head and continue with some more people watching as I type away on the keyboard. It is a pleasant atmosphere and brings some rest to my spirit.
Well I am back to the van now and have re-entered the land of unrest. My husband has completed his job and finishes up the paperwork so we can start to head back. It will be a long ride for us about 6 hours or so to get us over the pass and home to Puyallup. On our way I mention to him this odd contrast. The spiritual commotion at Wal-Mart really isn’t something new to us as we have already deemed it the “Crying Store” populated by the Walmartians. This is not meant as a slam, but just a way to describe the commotion we feel most every time we go there. Occasionally we enter one that has a calm spirit to it, but it is not a normal experience.
I asked him so what do you think the difference is between Wal-Mart and Starbucks? Of course we look at some of the obvious things like money, but I explain no it can’t be money because college kids and retired people frequent both. Single moms and high-school students and unemployed people as well.
What about location? No – that does not seem to be a reasonable explanation either. Neighborhoods of various cultures and economics have both stores and the experiences are similar.
What about how the stores got started? Well each were independent adventures that started out as one man’s dream and have grown not just to national recognition but even international acclaim. Both are incredible success stories. So, no, to that thought.
What about products that they sell? Hmm, each sells music. Both have coffee and sweets. Here is a kicker, well for me anyway, Starbucks sells a lot of carb-laden drinks and food, high in quality but produces that sugar hype and then crash. Wal-Mart carries some Starbucks stuff but also carries organic foods and things high in protein like cheese and meat that doesn’t usually promote a diabetic reaction. Funny Wal-Mart carries Starbucks stuff, but Starbucks doesn’t carry Wal-Mart stuff. Yet college students and the like can buy a product from Wal-Mart such as a laptop and then go to Starbucks to use the laptop. So it is not about products, or sugar crash, or even cross product selling or not.
Then what is it Lord? I know that there is something different between the two in the spiritual realm of things that produces the difference in attitude in the natural expression. “God, please reveal that to me.” is my prayer. It is now about 1 a.m. and we decide to pull over at a rest stop and take a quick snooze.
A cat nap does a body wonders when you have been doing so much driving. We wake up at about 3 a.m. get out and stretch our legs, use the bathroom, and then get back out on the road.
It hits me! What a simple and profound answer I get. Wow, thank you Lord for such a quick response. It is 3:16 a.m. on Friday morning the night is dark and the wind is cool but all is well in my soul as I ponder this wonderful answer.
Can you guess what it is? Are you even a bit curious?
Prayer.
Yep, it really is that simple. Consider this, how many bible studies, church groups, fellowship meetings, mentorships, pastoral counseling and the like goes on at a Starbucks? How many of those sessions open and close in prayer which I am certain from time to time include a blessing on that particular Starbucks location and the barista’s, other employees, and the people that frequent there.
Scientists and doctors agree that prayer makes a difference in the physical healing of a person. I am certain that it makes a difference for the spirit of a building as well. I wonder if Wal-Mart has ever considered providing an option that would facilitate bible study and prayer group meetings, and I wonder would the spirit of the culture there change?
As I mentioned earlier there are locations of Wal-Mart where the spirit is more peaceful, is that a location that has a higher percentage of Christian people employed there? Or maybe even that study or read their bibles there? Consider being mindful of this the next time you shop at Wal-Mart and remember this business and mostly the people in prayer. Let a simple act of faith bring peace to a place with great influence on our current culture. Consider Wal-Mart to be your newest mission field, just something to ponder.
Comment
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Comment by Carmen Gamble on August 10, 2009 at 4:35pm - Interesting thought Jean. You're right of course. Prayer really does change things, and what happens in the spiritual realm, affects the physical realm in ways we don't always fully realize. Even cities have a feel to them. When we travel, that is really apparent, and it always amazes me. I love the fact that just the presence of these groups and the blessings spoken sets the tone for the Starbucks. I really enjoyed your post!
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Comment by Yvonne Olson on June 1, 2009 at 9:59am -
Jean, I have always thought that Wal Mart does have an overall spiritual defect. There are certainly some that have a spiritual heaviness to them then others do, but I always thought that it was because a majority of low income customers shop there. But you just debunked my thought on that. You are correct about all kinds of people shopping there, not just low income. And even though I say low income, I don't mean that as a slam either.
I do have to say that I was in a KFC less than a month ago that had a spiritual heaviness about it. The person working the counter seemed to control the place with a spirit of negativity, so I treaded lightly in her direction with a soft countenance. Instead of placing a complaint, I prayed. I prayed earnestly hoping this person would have a change of heart and spirit.
You are so right by saying that prayer changes a lot in the spiritual realm. Let's continue to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. Kudos Jean! =)
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