Sister Mahala once told this story to a group of grade school students:

Two boys were walking down Main Street in Anywhere, USA. When they came to the General Store, the owner stood in the doorway leaning against the doorjamb. To the store owner’s right there was a large handwritten sign in the storefront window that read: JUST ICE. The boys stopped and stared. The skinniest of the two looked up at the man in the doorway and said, “Mister, I’ve been to a store with my dad that sells car tires called JUST TIRES. I’ve been to a store with my grandpa and grandma called JUST DONUTS, and I once saw a store advertised on TV called JUST BARBECUES. But I’ve never heard of a store selling just ice? Is there really that much of a need for it?”

The man stood up straight, looked at the two boys. “Oh, there’s a need alright, son,” he said. “Look again at that sign. And then look at the other window,” he said pointing to the large sign in the window to his left and to the boy’s right as he faced the storefront. In large print it said, “FOR ALL.” I’m not selling just ice. I’m encouraging JUSTICE FOR ALL.

Let me tell you something worth remembering, my friend. We see what we’re taught to see. Yeah? And we’re taught to overlook what is convenient for us not to see.”

The two boys glanced toward each other, then nodded to the store owner. Then they continued down Main Street. The bigger boy said to his skinny pal, “What do you suppose he meant by convenient?”

~ Dan Miller, © 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Faithful readers of THE ALMOND TREE. Consider sending these reflections on to family, friend, fool, or foe. After considering it, please do it. Thanks, ~ Dan