Our Faith
Back in my bookstore-manager days, I was inspired by a fellow named Stew Leonard who operates the “World’s Largest Dairy Store” with several locations in New York and Connecticut. Stew has a simple and powerful customer service statement:
OUR POLICY
Rule #1: The customer is always right.
Rule #2: If the customer is wrong, re-read rule #1.
It seems to have worked, as Leonard’s business is quite successful (I’ve shopped there several times while in New England; it’s an amazing place — more than just a grocery store, Stew Leonard’s features animatronics, costumed characters, and rooms where children of all ages can watch milk being bottled and eggs packaged in cartons. Truly a memorable shopping experience. Go visit the next time you’re in that neck of the woods).
Well, a couple of years ago I created a little sign for my home, that was in part inspired by Stew Leonard’s statement. It’s an outgrowth of conversations that my wife and I had about our faith, and how beneath all the rituals and dogmas and traditions one can find (and be distracted by) in religious observance, faith for us is really a very simple matter. When we returned to the practice of Christian spirituality after our sojourn in fairyland, this simple statement of faith has proved to be an important little reminder for us. Here it is, for your contemplative consideration:
OUR FAITH
- We believe completely and entirely in the unconditional love and grace of God: “God is love” (I John 4:16).
- We believe that all truth, dogma, religious doctrine, ethics, morality, values and traditions can only be understood in the light of the above.
Not quite as succinct as Stew Leonard’s statement, but certainly shorter than the Summa Theologica!
Stew Leonard has his mission statement carved in stone (literally). By contrast, our sign is a very simple little thing I created in Microsoft Word. We have it hung up in an inexpensive frame on our hallway wall. Meanwhile, Michael the Calligrapher, on his recent visit to our home, was so enamored of our little statement of faith that he asked for a copy to take home with him. So now we’re keeping our fingers crossed that he will be inspired to transform it into a lovely work of art!
