“Good luck”, the clerk says.
I chuckle.
Every week, no matter who the clerk is, he or she says, “Good luck.”
And every week I chuckle.
Most of the time they are not really wishing me good luck. I can tell by the tone of voice, or the smile, or the shake of the head. Most of the time they are saying, “You have just wasted your money.” Or, “What an idiot.” Or, “You need luck alright, but you haven’t got a lick of sense.”
Sometimes though they really mean it. The smile is hopeful, the eyes happy. Sometimes I can tell their spirit matches their words. Today the clerk’s words were a blessing, truly calling on the fates or the cosmos or God to spill unearned prosperity in my path. Her spirit matched her words.
Would that it was always so for all conversations. But then again maybe not.
I left PLC upbeat and happy. Whether my special numbers fall my way tonight or not, I have already received a blessing of honesty and joy. But then…
I joined a group of my friends for conversation and ease. I can rely on the honesty of each and every one. It’s good to be with a group like that. Except…
One of these friends is way too honest. It’s been raining and my yard is a muddy mess. I tell the story of losing a shoe in the mud. I think it’s a funny story. I am not upset. I don’t feel betrayed by the gods of mud holes. My friends laugh with me, not at me. But this one, in true honest fashion, lectures on the path I could have taken around the puddle, what shoes I should have been wearing, how I could have slipped and been badly hurt.
My friend spoke only truth; didn’t say a single thing that was incorrect. This dear friend’s spirit matched the words; my safety was her concern. But enough with the advice already. For crying out loud, it was just a funny story!
I wish I would have been heard in the spirit I was speaking. I wish my friend had responded with honest humor instead of honest commentary. But at least there was honesty.
The clerks at PLC will continue to wish me good luck, honestly or not. And, totally honestly, I will continue to chuckle.