Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sunday Reflection: The loss of the small
My favorite neighborhood hardware store is closing. It may seem silly, but I feel a real sense of loss about it.
Bayer's was a place I went about once every few weeks. I bought lawn fertilizer, hardware to fix a toilet, a socket wrench, light bulbs, road salt, shovels, a rake, duct tape, cabinet hardware, about a million assorted screws and bolts, and they even sharpened the blades on my old-fashioned unpowered lawn mower. I knew where things were there, and usually ended up buying some stuff I didn't intend to buy when I walked in. It had worn wooden floors and a secret basement full of plumbing stuff.
So, what do I do now? Go to Home Depot?
That's what is happening in neighborhoods across the country, and has for the last century.
It's not just stores, either-- it's churches as well. The Bayer's Hardwares of the Christian world are fading, and what is left in many places is the Home Depot of faith: the Megachurch.
I can't condemn them; I don't know much about them. But something about them wards me off-- the corrugated metal buildings surrounded by parking lots, the signs which flash rotating messages, and the locations out on the edge of town. I haven't tried it; I know that it works for a lot of people.
I do know this: That if I do need a flange, and drive out to Home Depot, there will be a sadness deep inside of me.
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If you need a flange and drive to Home Depot, no one will be able to tell you where to find it or advise you on how to install it properly.
We hvae a few mega-churches here in Durham but it seems that most churches are still smaller, intimate settings full of local residents.
We hvae a few mega-churches here in Durham but it seems that most churches are still smaller, intimate settings full of local residents.
"If you need a flange and drive to Home Depot, no one will be able to tell you where to find it or advise you on how to install it properly. "
I disagree. As much as I kind of hate large home improvement stores (they make me dizzy with too many choices), the Home Depot in St. Louis Park has some really fantastic employees who seem to care about their work. We have gotten excellent customer service there - maybe not on par with the local hardware store, but satisfactory nonetheless.
And this is coming from the daughter of a (former) small business owner, so I know your sadness.
I disagree. As much as I kind of hate large home improvement stores (they make me dizzy with too many choices), the Home Depot in St. Louis Park has some really fantastic employees who seem to care about their work. We have gotten excellent customer service there - maybe not on par with the local hardware store, but satisfactory nonetheless.
And this is coming from the daughter of a (former) small business owner, so I know your sadness.
Will “small” ever be far from us? And often mega begets small.
I too can not speak from personal experience, other than media coverage of mega church services. The production, music and energy can inspire and introduce to God’s love and grace – often a spiritual home, safe, inclusive and comfortably anonymous when by choice. Though with no disrespect intended, message preached often recalls kindergarten – beginnings – and as one begins to immerse self in even the largest of congregations, “small” can soon be found – small groups of new friends and many, many out reach opportunities furthering the growth of faith and fellowship – elementary to higher education and beyond in faith journeys…
“Small,” experienced and savored, remains with us always, secure in many of heart’s special places. Treasured memories – never taken, diminished through inattention if not shared, built upon and added to, the pages of our history – walks upon the paths, steps and floors repeatedly taken or experienced only once.
As my clients know well, whether renovation or new, a home needs a hint of “…worn wooden floors…” – the history pages of the home. For upon them the spectrum of family experiences and emotions have played out – from wine droplets celebrating a couple’s new home, first tippy cup spills, toddler and puppy muddy foot prints, birthday cake frosting smears, milk carton puddles, Grandma’s bubbling erupting marinara splats, tears and Champaign spray celebrating a son or daughter’s wedding, the list is endless…
Treasured memories all, each a precious “small” pearl, joined one to the other, life’s evolving tapestry intended to be savored and shared and like God, they will be with us always. From one candle, a thousand candles more will burn brightly. The selfless and generous act of one combined with similar acts from others will continue to change hearts and the world – one “small” combined with the next. We are all keepers, story tellers and sharers of our “small”…
I am sure Bob and all at Bayers will be missed by many and as “(t)he Settergren family has run a hardware store about a mile away since 1895,” stop in and give Mark and his hardware family a chance. Though he made a business buy-out offer to Bayers, a large portion of “small” may be alive and well nearby – Settergren’s has been a good neighbor going on 117 years, will Home Depot be able to say the same?
“Small” is very personal, do you willing live and share yours? Settergren's may, they "are" in the neighborhood - stop in and see, "small" may be closer than you know...
I too can not speak from personal experience, other than media coverage of mega church services. The production, music and energy can inspire and introduce to God’s love and grace – often a spiritual home, safe, inclusive and comfortably anonymous when by choice. Though with no disrespect intended, message preached often recalls kindergarten – beginnings – and as one begins to immerse self in even the largest of congregations, “small” can soon be found – small groups of new friends and many, many out reach opportunities furthering the growth of faith and fellowship – elementary to higher education and beyond in faith journeys…
“Small,” experienced and savored, remains with us always, secure in many of heart’s special places. Treasured memories – never taken, diminished through inattention if not shared, built upon and added to, the pages of our history – walks upon the paths, steps and floors repeatedly taken or experienced only once.
As my clients know well, whether renovation or new, a home needs a hint of “…worn wooden floors…” – the history pages of the home. For upon them the spectrum of family experiences and emotions have played out – from wine droplets celebrating a couple’s new home, first tippy cup spills, toddler and puppy muddy foot prints, birthday cake frosting smears, milk carton puddles, Grandma’s bubbling erupting marinara splats, tears and Champaign spray celebrating a son or daughter’s wedding, the list is endless…
Treasured memories all, each a precious “small” pearl, joined one to the other, life’s evolving tapestry intended to be savored and shared and like God, they will be with us always. From one candle, a thousand candles more will burn brightly. The selfless and generous act of one combined with similar acts from others will continue to change hearts and the world – one “small” combined with the next. We are all keepers, story tellers and sharers of our “small”…
I am sure Bob and all at Bayers will be missed by many and as “(t)he Settergren family has run a hardware store about a mile away since 1895,” stop in and give Mark and his hardware family a chance. Though he made a business buy-out offer to Bayers, a large portion of “small” may be alive and well nearby – Settergren’s has been a good neighbor going on 117 years, will Home Depot be able to say the same?
“Small” is very personal, do you willing live and share yours? Settergren's may, they "are" in the neighborhood - stop in and see, "small" may be closer than you know...
# posted by 
: 2:48 PM
: 2:48 PM
Carrie - I'll swap you. I tried buying replacement light bulds in Tampa a few weeks ago and no one could help me purchase a comparable bulb. I ended up at the 'small' lighting specialty store. Don't get me wrong - I have plenty of success at Loweds and Home Depot, but I pickc my moments (for sanity's sake).
Don't worry, I never do what Carrie says, anyways. I'll just keep making my own light bulbs at home, I guess.
I feel your pain and distress,since I too value the small. If I can't go into a store and have a conversation with the proprietor,where we both take something of the other away when we leave,I don't want to play. I love hardware stores and Bayers was a wonderful place,where dogs were allowed and they had popcorn.I am upset because a wonderful old-fashioned drug store,Olson Brothers closed this year. And long before that Clancy's Drug Store. It is a travesty. Business ought to be art,and not just the exchange of money. I am at St.Stephen's because of the small,because people want to know me,because I feel a real sense of family there...also because of the outrageously good preaching,outreach,The Creek and whatnot. Mostly the small in them that reminds me that I am known by God.
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