Yesterday’s Interesting Event (Non

Yesterday, I went to the local hardware store in my small town. They have almost anything your need and its where I purchased most of the materials to build the house we live in today.

I was looking to purchase some treated lumber to replace “aging” deck boards on our back deck and to replace the utility trailer floor boards (one broke the other day when I stepped on it).

They were not very busy today and I made my purchase, about 29 pieces of treated lumber and was directed (as I expected) to the back yard and was told to hand my “Purchase Order” to the gentleman there. He saw me driving up and I pulled to the right to let someone else leave. I handed him my purchase order and he looked at it and we had a short conversation about the expected quality of the treated lumber, in this case “Ground Contact” was what I wanted. I was directed to an opening on the right and pulled my 1996 Explorer and trailer into the area and we began to select and load the needed lumber.

I inspected each pice as we began making the transfer and we discussed what quality I expected. He allowed that he agreed with me and would not select anything that was sub par. We passed over a few pieces during the loading but most looked like good quality lumber.

Just in case you are interested there were 16 plus 2” x 6” x 16’ some 2 x 6 x 10’s and some 2 x 6 x 12’s and 8 2 x 8 x 10’s for the trailer floor.

All the above is nothing unusual. I was wearing my SSBN-599 USS Patrick Henry ball cap and he noted that when we were discussing quality and selection. We finished the loading and as the last board was placed in the trailer he began a conversation. It had to do with a religious experience he had recently and he told me how it affected him (for the better). This was a first for me (someone “witnessing’ to me) and I was impressed, pleased that he began this discussion with someone he did not know for “Adam’s house cat”.

In reality, this is one of the reasons we (they wife and I) selected this small town. For me, the Hardware store with knowledgeable workers and a friendly and long term staff (half the staff is still there from 12 - 15 years ago). There is also a Western Auto store and a Drug Store/Pharmacy. Three restaurants.

But the gentlemen’s desire to discuss (I think “witnessing” is the appropriate term ) a change in his personal life with a stranger was worth noting. And it is what makes, in my humble opinion, a small southern town well worth the few extra miles ride to the WalMart or Publix or……

The reason for the post. The gentlemen’s desire to witness to me makes me believe I should share his change in faith and his desire to be a true believer as part of his witnessing event. May we all see the light as he has.