The Pet Shop (03/05/2024)

Years ago, I owned an aquarium. I loved watching the variety of fish, watching their graceful movements, their interactions. I tried to clean the tank monthly. But one time, it sort of got away from me; so, “aquarium day” was a biggie. I wore chore clothes to tackle it. When I got the tank cleaned completely, I realized I needed more fish. So, I tore off to the pet store to restock. When I got to the store, I went directly to the aquarium section. There was no one there, so I walked up front to ask a clerk to help me. He told, “In a minute.”

I walked back to the aquariums and began selecting the types of fish I wanted to purchase. Then I saw a younger woman walk in, meticulously dressed, with a fine handbag hanging from her right shoulder. She stood in front of the aquariums with me. When the clerk came, he went immediately to this woman and asked, “How may I help you?” He waited on her as I tried to figure out what just happened. He walked her to the front and checked her out.

I stood by the aquariums waiting for him to return, but before he did, a gentleman and his son arrived. When the clerk came back, he immediately addressed them, ignoring me. And when they’d made their selection, they accompanied the clerk to the front. I stayed by the aquariums, pacing. It was a full 10 minutes later before the clerk returned. He looked at me and asked, “What do you want?”

I couldn’t believe it. I wanted to buy 10-12 fish. The two the clerk had chosen over me only bought one fish apiece. Then I realized how I must have looked, a bit untidy, maybe even disheveled. Perhaps he thought I couldn’t afford the fish. Perhaps he thought I didn’t know what I was doing. I’m not sure what he thought, but I distinctly understood that he’d deemed me a nuisance rather than a customer.

I got my fish and rushed to the car. I drove home thinking about the pet shop experience. I wondered to myself if I was that judgmental of others. Did I treat people according to my surface read of their value? Did I ignore others whom I deemed unworthy?  That night the LORD and I had a long talk about my pet shop lesson. Since then, I have never gone shopping in chore clothes, and I have tried very hard to not judge another.

Judging another comes naturally. It’s part of our culture. Our faith tells us, however, that it a part we are not to cooperate with as we journey. Judging belongs to the LORD, not to us. Recently, while reading Matthew Kelly’s book Rediscover Jesus, I was reminded of the pet store incident and my anguish. I was also reminded of my promise to not judge others. The LORD and I had that talk again, “judging 2.0” this time.

During this Lenten Season, while we are trying so hard to “clean up” our lives physically and spiritually, let us take note of this area that may need attention – judging one another. Let us remember that the externals never determine the person. Let us also remember that every person carries their own cross, invisible at times, but there. Let us also recall that every person we will encounter this day is a daughter or son of the Heavenly Father and one whom Christ gave his life to save. Let us seek with prayerful determination to put down our judgmental tendencies and pick up in its place the love for one another that is the hallmark of a disciple of Christ.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.

Thoughts? Questions? – email katewiskus@gmail.com