Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: 12pm-5pm
Magic SandWe now sell magic sand at the store. The idea to carry it came from the following story.
Several years ago I heard a fable of an Italian vineyard owner who had worked hard in his grape fields that had been owned by his family for many generations. He was getting on in years and wanted his son to take on more responsibilities. The father hoped that the son would carry on after he passed away. The son, however, was rather lazy and avoided hard work whenever possible.
After a time the father passed away and the vineyard was left to the son. He worked at it half-heartedly and soon things started going very wrong. All of a sudden the son realized that he was in danger of losing everything, not the least of which was the lifestyle he had grown accustomed to.
He had heard of a gypsy that lived deep in the woods so he sought her out with the notion that perhaps he could purchase some magical charm that would save his vineyard.
After much searching he finally located the gypsy and explained the purpose of his visit. She listened very carefully and finally, after much thought, said that yes, she had some magic sand that should do the trick nicely. “The price is very inexpensive, but you must follow my instructions exactly, without deviation, for the magic to work,” she explained. She then placed in his hands a small wooden box of magic sand and told him he must place just a pinch of sand at each of the four corners of his land. He must do this at sunrise and sunset, everyday for twenty-eight days. While sprinkling the sand he must also express gratitude to the land for all it provides him.
This was more work than he was expecting to put into the task but he figured he could handle it for twenty-eight days in order to save the vineyard. He paid the gypsy and left.
As instructed, he began rising early and sprinkling the magic sand at the four corners of his land while expressing gratitude for all its gifts. He repeated the endeavor every evening at sunset. At first he felt rather foolish and silly but he continued.
After about a week he noticed that a large section of the grape vines were not looking healthy, so after he made his rounds to all four corners he returned and located a leak in the drainage pipes that brought water to the plants. He had his workers repair the leaky pipe. A couple days later, while making his sunset rounds, he noticed a large group of workers just hanging out in the fields. As he walked over to see what was going on he noticed that they had not done any work that day, but had just goofed off. He reprimanded them and they never repeated the offense.
Day after day he noticed more and more things that required his attention and soon he was actively involved in all areas of his vineyard. And lo and behold the vineyard, once again, began to prosper.
After a time he forgot completely about the box of magic sand. His vineyard was showing signs of thriving and he was enjoying the fruits of his hard work. Some years later he happened upon the box and remembered his original intent upon its purchase. He opened the box and found it empty; all the sand was gone. He gave a silent prayer of thanks to the gypsy for her wisdom as he immediately realized what she had done for him. The instructions of how, where and when to place the ‘magic’ sand was her way of getting the young man to appreciate, be aware of, and take care of the wonderful gifts the land had to offer him. It was his involvement in his land, not the ‘magic’ sand that turned things around for him.
Personally, I have made it a habit of quietly walking around the store, either before we open or after close, and giving thanks for all the wonderful things and hoping that they find their way to those people who will most enjoy or benefit from them. Many times it happens that in the process I come across something that needs attention; a book in the wrong section; a shelf that needs dusting or something I missed in my reorders. The process helps to keep me on tract.
Perhaps we also need magic sand to sprinkle on all the corners of our lives. Perhaps if our relationship with our significant other, children or other family members seems out of sorts we may find upon sprinkling magic sand, or mindful attention, a leak in the line that provides nourishment there. Perhaps if our moment-to-moment experience of life is not joyous we may find that our workers, our thoughts, are goofing off by focusing only on negatives. Perhaps we may find that by sprinkling magic sand on our free time we may get inspired to volunteer, or write poetry, or whatever nourishes our soul.
It is easy, in these fast-paced, uncertain times, to forget or get sidetracked from what life is all about. So if that’s the case and you think it will help, stop by the store and pick up some magic sand. It’s very inexpensive, but I have to be honest with you, you have to follow the instructions exactly for it to work.