Fresh bread does things to us. Beyond, "What a nice smell," bakeries make us think and shop differently. Behavior is triggered by smell and smell triggers our sense of taste. Bakeries are sensual places.
Bakeries are sensual places unless we wear masks and gloves. Then they're disappointing remnants of bygone pleasures: no more samples, no more conversations in line, no more sensuality. We're trying to get in, get the maximum allotment of dented $0.31 loaves and get home; no touching, no lingering, no browsing, no splurges sparked by odor induced salivation.
My recent bakery visit, in gloves and a mask, was a downer until I whispered a simple prayer, "Speak Holy Spirit." Silent, expectant listening followed and made all the difference.
"Lord, will You reveal Your viewpoint against the backdrop of my coronaviral weariness?"
Listening for the Spirit continued through the check out line and into the parking lot. Nothing. Like the bread smell blocked by a mask, God may have been present but I wasn't sensing anything. Then I saw a sign.
"Donuts: 2/$3"Just as quickly as my hopes for a bakery visit had been dashed, they were revived. Who likes donuts more than cops? Who has been sent as a missionary to cops?
God turned dejection into direction. With a quiet, "Thank You Lord," I represented the prayer and financial partners by buying dozens of donuts and delivering them to the station .
The operations center was empty but the swipe card still worked. Treats were left for the next shift, with a note and text to the Sergeant. One gesture was fueled by dozens of people walking alongside the work. Outreach to first responders is a privilege.
The mask and gloves didn't stop Christ's work in our lives. May the Holy Spirit remind each of us that perspective matters.
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