THE REAL WORLD

I SPENT A FULL DAY IN THE REAL WORLD OF RETAIL SERVICE FOLLOWED BY A WORSHIP SERVICE. AFTER MY EXPOSURE TO A CROSS-SECTION OF MISSHAPEN SOULS, I REALIZED WHAT MAKES SMALL TOWN AMERICA SUPERIOR TO MANY OF ITS URBAN AND GLOBAL NEIGHBORS. THE ANSWER, I THINK, RESTS WITH THE LITERAL APPLICATION OF THE TERM 'MISSHAPEN' RESERVED FOR MY FELLOW AMERICANS AS OPPOSED TO THE FIGURATIVE MEANING WHERE OUR ENEMIES RESIDE.

HELLO IS RETURNED WITH HELLO. A SMILE WITH A SMILE. A SPLOTCH OF TRIVIAL PURSUIT IS AMICABLY EXCHANGED. THESE ACTIONS TYPIFY THE PLEASANTNESS OF DEALING WITH NORMAL, DECENT FOLK. I MET THEM ALL DAY LONG. FOR NO REASON AND WITH LITTLE EFFORT, CUSTOMERS AND I LEARNED A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT EACH OTHER. I WAS NOT STONEWALLED BY SUSPICION OR SUPERCILIOUSNESS. SURROUNDED BY LOCALS, I WOULD NEVER ENTERTAIN A THOUGHT OF FEAR FROM THE TATTOOS OR PIERCINGS, THE SIDE-SADDLE BALL CAPS, THE TEMPTING FRONTAL CLEAVAGES, THE OVERINDULGENT BACKSIDES, THE UNDERFED NICOTINE USERS, LUMPY PHYSIQUES OR PIOUS CHURCHGOERS WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN SPEND AN HOUR WITH GOD. TYPICAL SMALL TOWN AMERICANS RETURN CIVILITY FOR CIVILITY. HUMOR FOR HUMOR. MONEY FOR SERVICES. LOVE FOR NEED.

BUT THOSE CRIMINALS AND TERRORISTS WHO WANT TO KILL US, THOSE WHO CAN'T GET ALONG, THOSE WHO CHOSE TO ABUSE THEIR NEIGHBORS, THOSE WHO ROUTINELY PUT A NEGATIVE SPIN ONTO DAILY LIFE, WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND 'OTHERS' LIKE US. I AM GRATEFUL THAT I DON'T NEED TO DEAL WITH THEM, BUT I AM BOUND TO PRAY FOR THEM. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THESE MISSHAPEN SOULS INHABITS OTHER CITIES AND COUNTRIES IS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS BECAUSE ORDINARY WORKERS AND LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS COUNT FOR LITTLE IN MEDIA PICTURES THAT FOCUS ON WHAT BLEEDS. LIKE FERDINAND THE BULL, MORE HUMAN BEINGS NEED TO SMELL THE FLOWERS AND NOT ACT LIKE WEEDS.