Clear as Black and White

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

—Micah 6:8 ESV

“It’s hot out there, huh?” the young clerk chatted with me while checking out my groceries at Chaptico Market, the local “Mom & Pop” I’ve frequented since childhood.

“How hot is it supposed to be today?” I asked the clerk whose name, I later learned, is Brittney.

“Well, 87 when I wrote the board,” Brittney’s brown eyes bounced toward the blackboard near the door, which listed a week’s worth of forecasted temperatures, tidal information, and an inspirational quote, “but...”

“You write the board?” I interrupted, surprised that the new owner didn’t do that, for it wasn’t long after the store changed hands, from one generation to the next, that the chalkboard showed up.

“Yes,” she nodded with a smile.

“I love the board! Especially the quotes.”

“Thanks. I search on the Internet for something good—for everybody.”

“Wow, you’re doing a great job! They’re so inspirational. I’ve even quoted some of the quotes,” I said, referring to my classroom use.

“Thank you.”

We both glanced at the board, my eyes scanning the curly cursive and creatively drawn weather icons.

“I don’t like it when the board gets smudged,” Brittney motioned toward the right side of the board.

“I know what you mean,” I nodded, thinking about the chalkboards in my technology classroom. I rarely use them, but when I do, it’s usually for recording something for year-long reference like the i.d. number of the network printer or my teacher email address. And always, I start with a clean slate (literally!). Afterwards, I admire the crisp white letters and how they stand out on the clean blackboard. My perfectionist nature dares anyone to mess it up!

“But it’s okay,” Brittney caught herself, “because it only happens when someone is holding the door open for someone else and brushes against it.”

My breath caught in my throat. Yes, kindness and humility trump perfectionism any day.

I have no idea what I said in response, only that my mind was wrapped up in her statement more profound than any quote that ever appeared on that board—a revelation that stood out as clear to me as white chalk letters on a blackboard.

I collected my groceries and turned toward the door, calling over my shoulder as I went, “You’re sweet!”

But her words were sweeter still, something, I knew, worth quoting.

Dear Father, You have shown me what is required, and it isn’t perfectionism. Keep my vision clear for what is good—preferring others and spreading kindness—at the local market and beyond. Amen.

Brittney and her Board