Today was one of those divide and conquer kind of days. My wife took two of the kids to Grandma's house to do yard work, and I had the other two with me. My long list of honey-do's included a few errands, so the boys and I made our way to Walmart to pick up a several items and we hit Subway for lunch at the same time. Sitting in Subway at Walmart, watching all sorts of people file into the often reviled discount store, I realized the truth of the gospel in a new way.
Much has been made in recent months about a viral website featuring pictures of what many mockingly consider stereotypical "Walmart People". The only visibility I've had to this website is through a few news articles, soI don't presume to be fully knowledgeable of the content or intent of this website. You could say I've judged the book by its cover, and I'm okay with that. I'm not going to provide a link to the website here, and I'd encourage you not to search it out. That's not really the point.
It occurred to me, as I sat curiously watching the crowd, that some of these people could very well have already found their way onto a Walmart People type of website. It occurred to me also that it's just as likely I could end up being the "feature of the week" at some point. Yet despite how we may appear, we have more in common than you might think.
When I looked past appearances and met the eyes of each person, what I saw today was universal: Pain. Sorrow. Longing. Loneliness. But I also saw this: Joy. Hope. Love. Grace. I saw the banker from downtown. The farmer from south of town. The single mom with two little kids. The high schooler without a friend.
My point is this: no matter how we look on the outside, we are all Walmart People on the inside. We are all hurting and hoping, just trying to make our way through this world. But here is the good news: Jesus loves Walmart People. Jesus died for Walmart People. Jesus lives for Walmart People.
Judge me if you must, ignore me if you want, but we are the same. We are all Walmart People.
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