Casual Interactions

During my time in Japan, I began to value the countless daily interactions with nameless people you pass in the store, or on the street.

I suppose that is a side effect of living in a situation that can be so isolated that those may very well be the only interactions you have with people.

The result was that I began to utilize every single potential interaction with another human being to its fullest capacity, learning that I can gain some sort of human companionship from the briefest exchange. I began intentionally making eye contact with strangers, offering a smile, and in Japan the ever so slight upper body bow that I had become accustomed to. I started taking advantage of the few words I knew to have a meaningless conversation with every sales clerk, shop keeper, and janitor I came into contact with, and they became some of the most meaningful conversations of my life.

I am glad to say that I brought this new attitude back home with me 5 years ago (5 YEARS!?!).

I have watched how this can affect the people I interact with. I have seen how it can brighten someone's day that a customer asks how his or her day is going. I have experienced the brightening of my own day when a complete stranger returns my smile and hello. However, I have also noticed that I am most often the one to initiate the contact, and that it almost always surprises others.

Yesterday though something was different. Yesterday it was I who was surprised.

I had several things to get done yesterday in town, one of which was to take one of our members around to do his various errands. I was on a bit of a tight schedule since I had to be back in time for our Lenten meal and service. I also have to admit that I was a little annoyed with the person I was helping (this may very well become its own blog update!). All of this to say that I was a little rushed and not as intentional as I usually am about these interactions.

Yet I began to notice through the County offices, the Post Office, the convenience store, and then Walmart, that people were greeting me, before I could greet them. Halfway through Walmart I really began to wonder about this. Especially as several people smiled and said hello.

As I passed through the produce section my ponderings were answered as an employee (who I do not know by the way) said, "Can I help you find something Pastor?" Ah, yes the clergy collar.

In my ever growing knowledge of life in a small community on the prairie I had learned that sometimes a quick trip into the larger town of Worthington (especially with this particular member and unreliable weather) can often end up being not so quick. So I had intentionally dressed for the entire day. I had forgotten however that I had slipped the collar tab into the blouse when I had dressed so that I would not leave it on the bathroom sink; again. I had intended to remove it, slip it into my purse, and un-button the top button so it only looked like I have no fashion sense. Instead I received a sociology lesson.

The people who greeted me so warmly were very genuine. I never once felt like it was a greeting out of obligation. It still showed a distinct difference. I suppose I could assume that it is because the position of pastor still has an authority figure essence to it so it commands a certain respect. I could assume that or a million other things.

I choose to see it as people embracing a reminder that God is present in their lives daily. The genuineness of people's warmth and kindness yesterday shows me that just the reminder that God is working in their midst, even while shopping or getting gas, makes them feel a little lighter, a little more free, and definitely more loved.

It certainly made me stop and reflect about how blessed I am to be called into this vocation.