I work in a mall and on my lunch breaks I tend to go for walks around the mall (no wallet!) to people-watch, window shop, and just stretch my legs a bit. In case there was any doubt at all, Christmas is definitely getting close, and it’s nearness is felt as I watch festive window displays go up and see holiday-themed goods for sale. Setting aside the questions raised lately in the media about whether this early arrival of festivity takes away from the solemnity Remembrance Day (I am not yet convinced it does), I’d like to talk about the glimpses of grace I’ve seen this past week.
Yes a mall is basically a temple to consumerism, and I realize that, but grace and God can show up anywhere. There was a flash of grace as my co-worker’s eyes lit up when I told him about the Eight Days of tea Chanukah tea set – “perfect for my mom!” He said.
And then there was the little bird (the one in the picture) I found waaaay in the back of a big store making me think of how beautiful our natural world gets as the weather changes and it gets cooler.
There’s also the relationships I’ve built with other workers in the mall where we can relate to one another’s woes in dealing with our little retail world getting busier and busier and our customers getting needier and needier. It can be a difficult time of year for many who work in retail, who don’t necessarily have a lot to spend, to nonetheless have to watch others spend heaps of money on gifts and celebrations. Having companionship with others in this time makes it easier to keep smiling.
So grace abounds now and I feel like I need to build up a grace buffer for mid-December when I know it will be hectic and crazy and hard to find grace.
Listening for the Soul 
That little bird is priceless Shannon! Especially the little hat.
I’ve forgotten to look for grace everyday…instead I look for little glimpses of God, which may even be the same thing as grace. I see it mostly in nature or people’s expressions.
Thx for the posting Shannon!