By Dr. John E. Morgan

Pastor–Collinsville Baptist Church

I was frozen in place with my mouth wide open.  I could not believe what I saw.

My wife and I were in Brunswick, Georgia on Memorial Day.  We had left the beach for my wife to buy a hair dryer and a brush.  I figured ten minutes.  Then on to a local hot dog stand.  Lots of character.  Foot long chili cheese dogs.

Gloria had an address for a store called Ulta.  We walked in.  That’s when I froze in amazement.  The store was huge.  Every kind of beauty product in the world.  I had no idea such a place existed.  “This must be the female mother ship”, I told my wife.

We were met by a young woman dressed like she was going to a big time party. Nothing like a clerk at the cosmetics section of Walgreen’s. “Can I help you?” she sweetly asked.

I looked at her.  “I never knew a place like this existed,” I said.  She looked confused.  “No, really, I had no idea there was a store like this.”  More confusion.

Coming back to my senses, I said, “My wife needs a hair dryer.”  “Oh, yes sir.  Let me show you where they are.”  She was incredibly helpful and nice.

We made the long walk to the back of the store.  “Here they are”, she said.  The wall was full of hair dryers.  More hair dryers than I had ever seen.  Or knew existed.  “Let me get someone who specializes in hair dryers.”

She got another very nice and helpful woman to help my wife.  Knew everything about dryers.  It was a good time for me to walk around the store. I could not believe there were that many kinds of lipsticks and hair sprays.

I stumbled onto the men’s section.  Maybe 2% of the store. I told the three workers at the front of the store that I was going to sue for sexism.  They just laughed.  Very nice.  Offered to help me with a new fragrance.

I passed.  I saw a sign on the wall saying Philosophy.  That interested me.  There were words like peace, hope, love.  I picked up a box with Hope on it.  “Hope – the best is yet to come.”  On a jar of anti-aging cream.  “Miracle Cream” it said.

My wife had made a dryer choice.  I told my new friends in the front she needed help with a hair brush.  Turned out one of them was the brush specialist.  Very nice and helpful.  3,000 brushes, mostly round.  After much consultation she chose one.

At the check-out we realized the workers had taken a liking to us.  They gave me several free samples. A face cleaner I will never use.  Something for sore feet.  Usable.

We walked out to the parking lot. “Gloria, how did know about this store?”  “Honey, there is one just like it in Gadsden.”  “No, there can’t be.”  “It’s out close to Krispy Kreme.”  “Never heard of it”.  “They have color ads in the paper every Sunday.”  “Oh.  I never knew such a place existed.”

We drove away.  The hot dog place was closed for the holiday.  No chili dog. I got nothing.  But my wife loves her hair dryer and brush.

Maybe you have felt uneasy and out of place at church.  Given it a little try then quickly left.  You should try again.  Most of the people are really nice and helpful.  And can help you find real love, peace and even hope that doesn’t come in a jar but is a miracle.  A place with everything you really need.

My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19