There's Hope For Todayনমুনা

I was stuck in an airport – delayed by a storm. Fast food kiosks and chains were doing a brisk business, but I couldn’t stomach another “cardboard fiesta.” I searched the commons and found “Cheers.” The restaurant was fashioned after the television comedy. The menu beat McTacos hands down.

I took a table, humming the catchy theme from the show: “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name – and they’re always glad you came.” The cast of characters stepped out of my memory and took a bow. I looked around to see if this “Cheers” had captured the flavor of the long-running comedy.

My waitress was grumpy. “Don’t you want to know my name?” I asked. She wasn’t amused. I didn’t dare ask if she was glad I came. There were no happy patrons at the bar; no laughing staffers; and unfortunately, no fine restaurant upstairs. I ordered the grilled chicken salad and hoped for the best – it turns out my hopes were in vain.

A “look-alike” restaurant couldn’t live up to the “Cheers” theme. Maybe the church should give it a try. People really do want to go where everybody knows their name – and they know you’re glad they came.