The Vitamix Lady

How often do we miss the joy of another human being?  We are caught up in so many things; pressured by long to-do lists and financial & time pressure from all the things we want.

I have had "less" of these pressures in my life this summer.  God called me to a sabbatical season where my focuses got pared down to resting, spending time with him, caring for my immediate family, & unpacking and finishing from a house build and move.  My days still have "to do" lists but have had much time to fill up & heal my soul.  Never have I had a season like this!

So a couple weeks ago my husband bought me a new Vita mix.  It's a great machine with a lot of potential for making all kinds of great food in it.  The problem is we get it home & don't know how to cook with it so it basically it turns from a "powerful, transforming, kitchen, tool" to a blender :)  Instead of letting that happen, my husband suggested I go into Costco where he bought it and the Rep, Pamela, had been demonstrating great recipes & could teach me.

The surprising thing was that I actually had time to do it!  I went into the store and I actually had a relaxed afternoon in my life!  I didn't have a "to do" list 20 items long and a "timer" punched when I walked into Costco ticking in my ear that I "had to get in, get what I needed, and get out and on to the next stop!!"   I went in, went to her booth & introduced myself.  She was just getting set up was relaxed & was kind of having a less than productive day because she had sprained her wrist.  She remembered my husband who had spent quite a bit of time at the booth, loving every recipe and enthusiastically encouraging people as they walked by to try all these amazing concoctions.  Because I had the luxury of this "un-rushed afternoon" I was not in a hurry & decided to stand there and spend some time, getting to know her and just enjoying "Pamela".  It was like we were old friends!  Yes, she did make recipes which I wrote down step-by-step but more importantly, maybe, we touched each other's lives, brightened each other's days, appreciated the unique creation of each other.

I left her booth, probably 45 min later, walked out of the store and thought, "God help me.. that's the person I want to be!"