27/09/2022
A HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL AND A BAG OF CHIPS!
What we do in private, when no one is looking defines our character more than what we say and do in the glare of the public eye or when we think some one is watching! But both in the esoteric mysticism of the Far East and in the most refined tenets of the West, it is understood, there is a Silent Witness who is sitted in the heart taking note of every act. Two birds perched on a tree limb. One is transcendental and does not wish to enjoy the fruits of materialism, his friend also a transcendental bird however wants to enjoy the fruits of material matter. The first bird is a witnesser a chronicler and a guide for his friend who is bent on sense gratification. So the first bird whispers to his friend both perched on the tree limb, let your life be a testimony that Christ lives showing forth his glory, that at the end you may come back home, back to Godhead. This place is not really your home.
Today I went to a local convenience store, in a bad impoverished neighbourhood popularly called a bodega. The shop was run by a wealthy shop keeper in a mostly Spanish neighbourhood. As I approached the payment counter with my items, a snapple peach-flavoured ice tea and a bag of Pistachio nuts, other customers also were at the counter clamoring to be served first. In the midst of the clamor, the attendant gave me $3 change when he should have given me just $1.50! As I walked out of the shop holding $3 in my hands it didn't occur to me I had received more money than I was entitled to until I had walked at least three blocks away.
Suddenly as I made to open my snapple bottle for a swig, I was confronted with my left hand still clutching $3! That's when it occurred to me I had been given more money than I should have. One voice in my head said, oh don't worry about it, this isn't even your neighbourhood you won't be coming through here so who will ever question you, moreover, you need this money more than the rich wealthy shop owner with his convenience shop bustling with goods worth millions, he won't miss #1.50. But then another equally strong voice was saying "those who are faithful in a little shall be faithful in a lot!" In other words, faithfulness begins with little things and when the Lord sees you have been faithful in the little things, then he entrusts you with even bigger things and responsibilities. So I made a u-turn and came back to the shop. This time as I approached the sales guy behind the counter, there was no one competing for his attention at the counter. He was focused and clear eyed. It was just himself and me. So I said,
"Amigo, how much is this snapple drink", holding it up. he said
"Two dollars."
How much is the Pistachios snack?
"A dollar fifty cents", came the reply.
"Well, thats $3. I gave you $5, and you gave me back $3 instead of $1.50!" As I handed back to him his change.
"Take it!" I demanded.
He stood there frozen in one spot, unbelieving that some one actually was returning money in this crime ridden neighbourhood where the normal is cheat and try to not get caught.
Finally he reached out tentatively collected the money and gave me back the correct change of $1.50. He was effusively thankful.
As I was about to leave the shop that's when an elderly lady who had been standing behind me listening to the conversation and watched what happened, touched me by the shoulder
"Sir!"
I turned around.
"You are the most honest person I've ever seen!"
'Oh, c'mon now, I ain't done nothing special!"
'No, I heard everything. You just returned $1.50 when you didn't have to. No one knew, not even the shop keeper knew he had given you more than he should have, so what made you walk all the way back 3 blocks to return the money"?
Right there I now saw why the Silent
One within me had said "one who is faithful in a little will be faithful in a lot!" It wasn't even about the amount of money involved, a negligible amount of $1.50 cents.
It was rather an opportunity for me to show forth the glory of the Lord. So The One Who Keeps Witness within us all made me walk back. This our God definitely has a strange sense of humour! Here was someone captivated by my small deed and asking me why I did it. If returning just one dollar and 50 cents can make someone ask questions and engage me, Imagine if I had an opportunity to return an even bigger amount of money, would I now have a bigger audience? Perhaps.
So I smiled and retorted, "well, it was just $1.50! Imagine if it was a million dollars, perhaps I wouldn't have returned it!" And she laughed but said:
"not me, either but I've seen people steal 10 cents 50 cents as long as no one is looking but you brought back $1.50 to this rich shop owner when it's clear you probably need it more than he does".
So I now drew closer.
"You really wanna know, ma'am? I'm a Christian and my faith says he who is faithful in a little shall be faithful in a lot!"
Now I had gotten her attention, with a steady gaze fixed squarely on me,
She said, which church do you attend?
"Oh, you should hear the choir, they sound like angels, what are you doing this Sunday?"
So I gave her an invitation to meet next Sunday in church and she agreed to come....Well that will be next Sunday. Stay tuned...
That which you do when no one is looking is a stronger manifestation of your character and wins hearts than all the evangelism by preaching we can do. Forfeiting a small or large amount in the service of integrity is character building.
Later that day at my place of work, a client walked in and placed $100 note on the table in front of me. He said its a tip for doing my job, something I'm supposed to do anyway! I said to him but sir, you just gave me $100! Thinking its a mistake, thinking he meant to take out $20 bill but removed the crisp $100 bill by error.
"No, its for you!",
came his response.
Oh yeess! didn't the Silent One say, all the gold and silver on a thousand hills belong to me and I shall give it to whomsoever I please?
Now could the two events be related in some way? I've heard it said, when a soul is saved, angels rejoice in heaven. And when there is rejoicing in heaven sometimes, hundred dollar bills begin to rain down!
