Faced with the loss of a favorite bagel shop I wrestled with how we experience change in our lives. Learning to help others navigate change is important.
Looking Forward to Lunch
This week I am attending the yearly conference of the Nehemiah Leadership Network. It is being held at the Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center. I have found reason to visit Tuscarora Inn a couple times each year. One of my favorite things about trips here is a visit to the local bagel shop. It is one of those shops in a small country town. A locally owned place where you can get amazing sandwiches on just about any type of bagel that you can imagine.
Confronted with Change
I arrived a day early so I could settle in and get some rest before the activities of the week began. I was not really hungry, but I did want to stop by this special bagel shop so out the door I went. As I came into town I was greeted with a big, bright orange, brown, and pink sign glaring at me. Normally I am one who cheers the site of a Dunkin’ Donuts sign. There was a season when I would have bet that my blood was part Dunkin’ coffee. Today, my heart sank. Gone was the bagel shop with such great sandwiches. In its place stood the same old Dunkin’ that I can find just about anywhere on the east coast.
I drove through town in hopes of finding something local, I was disappointed. As I walked into Dunkin’ Donuts they had taken what was a nice space with plenty of area to sit, read, relax, have conversations with friends and sterilized it. There were about one third of the amount of seats, all crammed in together. This was not the place I remember sitting for hours as I enjoyed my lunch, a cup of soup, and a good book. I grabbed something to eat and got out as fast as I could. [Read more…]