The Clerk

A clerk is preparing for the day's business at a corner grocery shop, which is well known for its delicious apples. The apples come from a nearby orchard, where they are picked fresh every day. Before the clerk is finished, a man briskly walks in demanding, "Where are the apples?"

The clerk smiles and points, "Through that door, sitting in a basket. The door's still locked. If you want I can open it for you."

"That's all right, I'm in a hurry," says the man, and he buys a candy bar to satisfy his hunger instead. As the man is leaving the clerk unlocks the door to the apple room. The smell of the sweet apples fills the entire shop.

A little while later, another man comes in. "I am starving for some apples!" he says. The clerk tells him where they are. The man walks through the door, looks at the basket of apples, then leaves, remarking, "Well, I was expecting much larger apples than that!" The clerk is not disturbed, because he knows they are the tastiest apples in town. As the man leaves, the clerk goes to the room, grabs an apple, and begins munching on it.

Just then a woman, who is a regular customer, comes in. She knows how good the apples are, but when she sees the price exclaims "Thirty cents each! Surely you are committing armed robbery! I have young mouths to feed, and you don't even care, do you?"

The clerk smiles, because he knows how rich the woman really is. "Actually," he pauses to take a bite of his apple, "I was about to fix the sign. They're forty cents now. Real good apples though." He takes another bite, enjoying it tremendously to make his point.

"Well I never!" scoffs the woman. She hurriedly finishes her shopping, making sure to throw disgusted looks at the clerk whenever possible. She checks out without buying any of the fruit she so much wanted.

The clerk has mild business throughout the day. Evening comes and he begins closing up shop. Just as he flips the sign to closed, a man comes in the door. He smells rather putrid, and looks about the same. "Good sir," the man says to the clerk, "I have heard you have the most delicios apples here, and I would be so happy if I could have just one for my dinner. I have no money to pay you with, but I thought I might work for it somehow, I've got two arms and two legs at least."

"I'm really about done working today, " says the clerk, "I've locked the apples up for tonight, but here, take this key. If you ever find yourself hungry for an apple, come and take one."

"Thank you!" cries the man.

"We have been looking for some help in the orchard," the clerk explains, "If you'd like you can come back in the morning and I will send you out to work. Come in now, and eat."

"Thank you, kind sir! Thank you!" says the man. He unlocks the door, opens it, picks his first apple, and begins to eat.

The next morning, the man is seen picking apples in the orchard, wearing freshly washed garments, and exuding the same fragrance as the apples he is picking. He smiles, for now he has some good work to do, and the work will sustain him.

 

In the same way, when the divine clerk comes to you and says "The kingdom of God is within you," be sure to take the time to look there, or you will go hungry. Do not let your ignorant expectations cloud His true joy, for the largest apples aren't always the best. Be always thankful for what the clerk gives you. By your ingratitude you will only raise the cost for the joy you seek. If he asks you to join Him in His harvest, do not hesitate for even one moment to join Him, even if you are a filthy begger. He will make you clean.

(Written as a reminder to myself, or to any with such imperfections.)