One time when I was little I was in Mt. Vernon Ohio with my Dad. We were doing what my dad does best, bookstores. We went into a Christian bookstore on Main St. and my Dad was browsing all the latest titles and making small talk with the salesman. I followed my Dad like a shadow and was a 3 out 5 on the bored out of my mind scale, 1 being not bored at all and 5 being I might wet my pants right here because the embarrassment from that would be more exciting then doing what I am doing right now. Looking back I don’t remember much about it other then one thing; I thought the salesman thought he was awesome. I didn’t think that was a very good trait for a guy that worked in a Christian bookstore.
My dad was winding down this wonderful shopping experience when he found a book he had just reviewed for a Christian book review. He snatched it up and showed it to the salesman.
“I just reviewed this book for a Christian book review.” he exclaimed proudly.
“That’s neat,” the salesman replied, as awesomely as he could.
“Have you read it?” my dad said.
The salesman slowly looked up from what he was doing. “No I haven’t.” Followed by a long awkward silence. “Actually Ken I don’t read anything other then the Bible to be honest with you.”
More silence, “Oh well, that’s great,” my Dad chirped, as he sat the book back on the dusty table and said farewell to our pseudo-pious friend. We made our way out of the musty fluorescent lit shop and out underneath the white and green striped awning of the bookstore. I looked up at my Dad wondering what he thought about the display of transparency by the devout man of God inside.
“Do you think he is lying Dad?”
“I like to believe the best son. He sure was pseudo-pious about it though.”
I looked down the street towards the town square and thought “man that guy was more like Jesus then Jesus”.
