Buying a weedeater

I remember growing up in Huntsville, AL and going to a cafe and being asked if I wanted something to drink. The answer was always, "I want a Coke." The response of the waiter or waitress was, "What kind?" To that I would say, "a Grape (or Pepsi, Orange, etc.)." Coke was just a generic name for a soft drink. We didn't ask for a pop or a soda - that is what my wife and daughters still ask for (they were born in North Dakota). Well, as of late, I have been in the market for a replacement weedeater.

I am just a country boy, so weedeater is a generic name for any gas trimmer you may see. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not some unsophisticated redneck. In fact, I am an alumnus of Vanderbilt University (home of the 2007 National Champion Women's Bowling team) and I started my task by going online and researching all sorts of weedeaters. I talked to friends and neighbors. I even narrowed it down to two models: Echo and Husqvarna. Echo is carried at Home Depot and Husqvarna is carried by Lowes - so my journey began.

I visited each store and (I know this will be hard to believe) had not one salesperson come to my assistance, even though I was handling the machines and reading info from all the boxes, etc. I even went to a local small engine store that carried BOTH brands I was looking for. In their showroom I browsed the models, took them down from the racks, and did everything possible to show I was interested. Nothing! Not one person even welcomed me into the store. Man, even at WalMart I get welcomed!! I was in the Nashville area a few days later, so I continued my quest. I got lucky at the Lowes because the salesman was very knowledgeable and almost sold me on the top-of-the-line Husqvarna. I decided I would wait and think through spending $265 on a weedeater. My rationale was that if I decided on the Husqvarna, I would certainly return to this store and buy from them since I had a real person talk to me that actually knew something. I still had found no one to tell me about the Echo brand. I also had the feeling that if I ever had a problem, no one at any of these stores would be able to help. I had gotten lucky with ONE salesman, but to think that I would be lucky with a repair issue was just more than I could imagine.

Easter Sunday during breakfast (following the 28 degree outdoor Sunrise service), I was talking to the owner of the Albertville, AL Ace Hardware store. I told him of my plight and asked what he would suggest. He mentioned the Echo and commenced to tell me more than I ever wanted to know about it. He then said that if I came by the store he would have someone who knew a lot more about weedeaters talk with me! If I bought one, they would take it out of the box, put gas in it and make sure it was operating correctly. Then, they would let me try it out, if I wanted, to make sure I understood how to operate it. Oh, they also provide repair service on-site! During the following week, I went 60 miles to Albertville, visited the local Ace Hardware store, and was treated like a real person by real professionals. Guess where I bought my weedeater? Guess what I paid for it? $199. Now I am a "Happy Camper."

I know, this doesn't sound like a theological discussion - and it isn't, in the strictest sense. But I have seen this "weedeater issue" acted out in churches all over the world. People wanting to be welcomed, treated like valuable assets, and offered help. All too often their experiences have been just like mine at Home Depot and Lowes. They know there is something there, but just don't know who to go to or how to go about getting what they want. Isn't that sad!

Is there any wonder why some churches grow and others, in the same area, do not? I don't think there is anything strange about that at all. It speaks for itself.

Just Thinking.