I am a loyal shopper at
Trader Joe's. For reasons that are partly substantial and partly fabricated, I believe the store to be a place of integrity, offering healthy yet delicious food. John and I have been buying the majority of our groceries there since before Hosanna was born, and she recently graduated from college. I know the lay out of the aisles, and enjoy trying new products they promote. If it is from TJ's, I already like it.
On occasion I see bad press pop up about the chain. But my knee jerk reaction is to minimize it or put a good spin on the information. I want to support Trader Joe's and will bend over backwards to protect that inclination. If they are criticized, I ignore it.
The reality probably includes some less than magnanimous practices. They are after all a for profit business. But I am willing, even eager to give them the benefit of the doubt.
There is a story in Genesis where Noah lies nude and drunk in his tent, and one of his sons finds him there. Ham, the middle child, wastes no time in spreading the news about his father, mocking him and blistering his reputation. But the other sons, Shem and Japheth, have no interest in defaming their father. They walk into the tent backwards, so they cannot see his nakedness, and bend over backwards to lay a garment on him to protect him from shame.
It is socially acceptable to rag on your spouse. It makes for juicy table conversation. But how is it possible that I am more loyal to a grocery store than to my husband? I am moved by the image of these two young men, straining their backs to ignore the blatant mistakes of someone they love.
My hope is to be like them.
People who have love for others scarcely see the evil of others, but observe all their good intentions and true thoughts, and put a good interpretation on what is evil and false. All the angels are like this; they get this from the Lord, who bends all evil into good. Emanuel Swedenborg, Secrets of Heaven §1079
