The best discussions are the ones that make you crave more...

Im not sure if you all (and Im not sure who "you all" are) know this at this point, but I recently became a supervisor and in that promotion, changed stores. So the past month has been an adjustment with new store, new responsibilities, new co-workers and new customers.

We had a lot of truly wonderful - precious, you might say - regulars at the old store.

(Im also still getting used to the fact that I no longer work there - I catch myself referring to new store as if Im not a part of it, and old store as 'my store.' Its still a work in progress.)

Anyway, I miss my dear regulars very much, and although new store has its share of regulars, they are not yet mine.

Except one.

Gary is my favorite. He comes in every day, in the morning as well as in the evening, and brightens my day every time we walks in, no matter how crazy things have been. I just adore him.

Dont worry, nothing creepy-- Im not in love with him or anything. My love for him is more like that for a grandfather, although he is not quite old enough to be my grandfather - I think he's probably only in his 60's. (and anyone who knows me knows I love old people! but again, he's not an old man, just older)

There was a lot of movement at this store recently so there are quite a few new people, myself included, and Gary has taken the time, and a genuine interest, in getting to know each of us.

Tonight, I was working with the absolutely phenomenal, Liz - I love her - and Gary, who had met her and spoken to her briefly once before, stopped and confirmed some of the details he had gathered previously: "you're the preacher's wife."

Liz has the sweetest disposition of anyone you will ever meet. So she answered affirmatively but did not offer anymore.

In the 2 weeks I have worked with her, she has always asked questions to get to know each of us, but has never judged anyone by their answers and is always free with her responses, but not until they are solicited.

But, Gary did not let her pause stop him.

This could be construed as intrusive, but it was nothing but honest-to-goodness friendliness.

Liz and her husband came out here to Oregon to start an Assembly of God church, and so, in talking about this endeavor, and especially discussing the effort they are putting into figuring out a name to call this church that will be welcoming to all, and not pretentious or off-putting for some, we got into a pretty long and in-depth conversation about religion.

....not really an ideal topic for the workplace. But it was a really great conversation in which we could actually discuss without anyone's feelings getting hurt or anything like that.

I havent had a really good discussion like that in a long time and I really enjoyed it.

I dont know what I believe about God or the Bible or anything like that but I always love to discuss it with people; to learn their views on it, what they are taking from it, or even what their opinions on other religious peoples are.

Growing up, we went to church - both sets of our grandparents are quite religious - but didnt continue as we have gotten older. Mom, especially, is pretty 'against' all the Jesus and Bible talk I think mostly as a result of being forced to go when she was a kid, and the remnants of her natural urge to rebel against her parents. Dad stopped going to church along with all of us as well, but after his dad's recent passing he has rekindled his urge to attend more regularly again.

I have a very basic understanding of the general facts. But discussions like the one we had tonight make me want to be more knowledgeable about the facts, that I didnt really have a tolerance or desire for when I was younger. To be able to know why I believe, or dont believe, the things I do/dont.....