Thursday, August 15, 2019

A man walks in, dragging carpet samples, through the office's open doors. He gets as far as the conference room, looks at the men standing around, and is confused. We look back at him. "Is this the furniture company?" "No, that's down the hall. We figured you were here for afternoon prayers." "You're doing them? May I?" "Sure, just drop your samples anywhere. You're the tenth man." The leader launches into the service. At the end of the longest, mostly silent prayer, we have to wait for the visitor. He's praying even more slowly than I do, though not through lack of practice. He's completely involved in doing them, with dramatic hand motions and facial expressions as he bobs back and forth. When we're done, he holds a fervent pose for a moment then turns and picks up his samples. "So, the furniture office?" "Out the door and dead ahead." "Thanks. Be blessed." "Be well," today's leader replies. He heads back into the hall. We get back to work.