Shopping in my Harlem Neighborhood

Really this post is more about shopping in New York rather than just my new neighborhood. I still have not adjusted to the differences compared with shopping in the suburbs of Michigan.

Today I was in Paragon, a department store down the street from me. It's about my third time in there. There's one floor with areas including: clothes, home decorating, cleaning and beauty supplies. It's where I've shopped for household cleaners, lotions, toothpaste, etc. Great prices and again, right down the street.

So I'm getting ready to check out and what's this? There's an ENTIRE OTHER LEVEL downstairs. Right there across from the checkout! Impossible to miss, except I've been there 3 times and missed it! Cookware, gifts, furniture, toys, etc. This store has everything!

It's like everything in NYC. I have to look at things with a different perspective. Buildings, stores are not what they may appear to be at first glance (or second or third glance.) Just like what I'm learning to do with the people I encounter. I tend to judge them by their outward appearance and judge them based upon some fault or shortcoming I have in myself, most times without ever realizing it.

I am constantly brought back to the Gospels where Jesus noticed things that his disciples did not. They saw what was right in front of them yet missed what was right in front of them. Just like me. Yet the disciples and I have Jesus and the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide us. I just pray that I ask him for guidance every day so that I don't miss what is right in front of me. As he went along, he saw...