Rick Duerksen
“Sow a thought and you reap a deed;
Sow a deed and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit and you reap a character;
Sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
By Rick Duerksen
I needed to replace the family car, way back in the day, so I drove to a car lot, went into the office, and approached a salesman. I told him what I was looking for and what my budget was. What have you got that fits within these guidelines? And don’t show me anything that doesn’t match. We walked around the lot and the salesman pointed out a few cars. None caught my eye, so I said “thanks” and told him that I’d check back some other time.
As we were heading back to the office, the salesman pointed at a car. “What do you think about that one?”
No way, it’s quite a bit outside what I had described.
“Well, maybe, but it is a real good deal.”
I can’t remember the details, but at the price mentioned, it was a good deal. I stopped and looked at it. It was a good car. “How about I get the keys and we’ll take it for a drive?”
Sure, why not? So, we went for a drive.
It was a good car and while I was driving, I was thinking, not paying much attention to the almost non-stop chatter of the salesman. The car was outside of my budget, but it was a good car. It was a couple of years newer than the other cars I had looked at, so we could drive it for a few more years before needing to replace it. Even though it was outside of my budget, I had the money, and I didn’t have a trade-in, so I could give a cash offer. If we could agree on a price, I would go to the bank and get a cashier’s cheque while the salesman completed the paperwork. I was getting excited. Donna would like this car, the kids would …
I realized that the salesman was trying to get my attention. He was fumbling in his jacket pocket and digging out a sheaf of papers. “Oh, man. I’m sorry. I was thinking of the wrong car and gave you the price for that car. This car is a bit more than the price I quoted. But hey, it is still a good car and I’m sure I can do something to bring the price down a bit.”
He kept talking but I once again had stopped listening and was thinking. You slimy rat. You knew that if you had told me the correct price, I would not have stopped to look at the car, I would not have gone for a drive, and I would not be a captive, listening to you trying to explain away a deliberate lie as an honest mistake. I drove back to the lot and left the car with the engine still running.
I’m not buying it.
The car salesman didn’t just point at the car and say, “Do you want to buy this car?” That would have been easy to say no to. The salesman planted a thought in my mind, and I acted on it. Once he got me into the car, he had me captive. He used lies and deceit. He wanted me to buy that car, and any method used was acceptable to him.
Alcohol is like that used car salesman. It makes subtle suggestions, plants small seeds, and then works at nurturing them. Nothing too direct or overt. It just wants me to think about it.
A glass of wine while cooking dinner would be nice. A beer would sure go down well in this heat. You sure made a great Caesar, Rick.
Cinco De Mayo without tequila? Are you crazy? Christmas? Rum and Eggnog. Remember? Come on, why not?
Just as sneaky as that car salesman.
You don’t have to buy it, Rick. Just take a look at it. Hey, I can see you in this car. Just sit in it, you’ll find it is very comfortable. I can tell you like it, why not go for it? Just take it for a quick drive, before you say no. At least think about it. Come on, what’s the harm?
What’s the harm? Sow a thought and you reap a deed. The harm is letting those thoughts take root and having them grow into a deed. And then planting that deed…. That is the harm. So, I will continue to say, as I said to that salesman.
Sorry, I like the ride I’m on now, and what you’re trying to sell me? I’m not buying it.
I can be reached at [email protected]
