Not far from The Faith Cafe, there’s a big-box home-improvement store. I had occasion to go there recently, and noticed the smiling greeter at the entrance.

He had name tag sticker on his apron which read, “Frank: Front End.”

I was both puzzled and amused.

Did the store managers figure that customers needed guidance determining which was the front end of Frank?

If I peered around to see Frank’s backside, would I see another sticker which read, “Frank: Rear End”?

Or maybe Frank needed a sticker on his apron to tell him which way to put it on, so he wouldn’t wear it back-to-front?

I giggled my way through the store until I finally realized that perhaps the sticker meant that Frank was responsible for covering the front end of the store. I felt a little sheepish at my mistake, but reasoned that the sticker could have been a little less confusing.

At another similar store I visited, the greeter had a name tag which read: “I’m George. I’m here to help.” That was much clearer. No mistaking what the employee was there for.

Then I thought, isn’t that what we believers are here on earth to do, too? Not to judge people—that’s God’s job, not ours. But to help others. To help them find the way into the kingdom. To help them materially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that, “God made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created for us a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.”

Galatians 6:10 puts it very plainly: “We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.”

Maybe we should go through life as though we have a sticker on our shirt which reads, “I’m [insert your name]. I’m here to help.”

It might help remind us what we’re really here for.

© 2019 Lori J. Cartmell