The Walmart Greeter

[subsidinginsanity]

I remember watching The Peaceful Warrior some time ago. As spiritual as that movie is there is one scene that for some reason has made a lasting impression on me. Socrates, a wise old spiritual master who was played by Nick Nolte, was asked about his job as a gas station attendant. His answer was that it's all about service to others, and there is no higher purpose.

Sometimes when I go to Walmart I notice that the greeters they have there are not always the old, retired people we usually see, but young and middle aged people as well. My question is if one were to spend his entire life as a Walmart greeter would that be enough?

[wayne]

Even a begger can realise God while he sits on the street asking for alms. Its the attitude in ones mind that matters most when offering service to others, whether it be employment or someother. And yes, if that person is to remain there for life it will be. If not, then unseen forces will move that one to a higher grade of employment or to a lower one. Depending on lessons to be learned or deeds to be repaid.

[clara927]

Hello Subsiding,
This is a very interesting post and I'm surprised I didn't notice it earlier. I think almost any job in theory can serve God and can serve others. I think it all depends on, like Neon said, the spirit in which it's done. Sometimes people continue to go to jobs that they hate day after day year after year because the think its Gods will for them. If I your heart you dislike yOur job then I highly doubt it's Gods will for you. I understand that it's important to be humble but sometimes it's just giving people permission to walk all over you. I think you'll feel the difference when your serve out of joy and when you "serve" and feel like you are being used.

[gruntal]

Back when I was actually looking for a job I would often lament it was either THIS or passing out shopping carts at a WalMart. THIS ment a job as a professional machinist even if it ment starting out at the minimum wage after 17 years of formal education and a possible commute of 50 miles each way. That always brought a chuckle although it wasn't always obvious rather they were laughing at me or with me.

Oddly some people in the past dreaded getting stuck in a machine shop. Or getting stuck anywhere. "If you didn't like it why did you do it?". Now the choices seem to be drying up. That is good in a way. Less hypocracy. You arn't there because you like it; you value life and loyalty enough to show up even if you do NOT like the immediate.

Actually my local WalMart is a sort of "ratty" humbled place and I'd rather be elsewhere but it is the only store in a very small town. And shopping there is a blow against snobbery and pretense.

Even if I did work there and manged the whole store it would not make it any more acceptable to me. I would always be sneaking off and trying to fix broken things. Whereas the others might be anxious to take a break from the assembly line to administer help and advice to their co-workers.

I don't even know what the minimum wage is and never even studied my pay checks. The clock did not matter to me at the time. I never felt so good and so usefull to all in myuseless life. Then and only then do you know it is indeed "enough".

[subsidinginsanity]

Thanks everybody. Excellent replies. I tend to believe that what we do here on earth is irrelevant. It's all about what's happening in our mind. I guess a menial, entry level job would be okay if it makes you happy and you enjoy serving others. If you hate it that's different.

I'm not sure God even really cares what we do here. Everything happens because of the choices we make. Heaven will always be there. How long it takes us to come home depends on us. I wish things were more clear.

[subsidinginsanity]

gruntal, reading your post was a little painful for me just because I know exactly what you are saying.
I've been there. I hope you are doing better career wise now.