Are you familiar with Ten Thousand Villages?

It’s a global organization supporting the work of thousands of artists from around the world, particularly those living in third world countries.  My church, First Grace United Church of Christ, recently opened a Ten Thousand Villages store as part of its growing stable of successful ministries and smartly named it Market Path.  It is almost like a franchise operation but without the encumbrances that normally come with such stores.  Shop owners are free to name it whatever they want and decorate the store as they see fit, even selling products from vendors outside Ten Thousand Villages. 

Ten Thousand Villages is part of a world-wide movement to practice fair trade, creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers, giving them a chance to earn fair wages for a better quality life.      

One day after Sunday services, I experienced a bone-jarring moment of synchronicity at Market Path.  

I decided to stop by the store to see if I could lend a helping hand.  Perhaps the garbage needed to be taken out or the cardboard boxes had to be flattened and disposed of.   Thanks to the two delightfully energetic and perpetually smiling young ladies who work there full time (Jenni Browning and Janet Rhodes), I always walk out of there with my spirits uplifted.  Not only are they full of loving energy but they have truly mastered the art of smiling that even a group of pre-teenage boys from the neighborhood now call it “the cool store.”  When you have a couple of hard-to-impress group of kids calling your store a cool place to be, then you know something awesome is happening!    

On this particular day, Anthony Colucci, also a member of First Grace, was there assisting Jenni with the scanning of products into the store’s new computer system.  Approaching the counter, I noticed he was holding an attractively designed triangular box, piquing my interest.  

“Hey Anthony, what’s that you have in your hands?” I inquired, intensely curious.

Taking off the cover, he showed me what was inside.  What I saw immediately inspired me to buy one.  In the box was two auburn-colored ceramic hands, beautifully carved and cupped together (as if drinking water from a fountain), along with several pieces of pleasant smelling cone-shaped incense.  I had never seen anything like it before.

Pointing to the box in Anthony’s hands, I excitedly said, “Jenni, where can I find more of those?” 

Grabbing my hand, she happily led me to a three tier shelf that was perched in the middle of the tiny store, a mere few feet from the counter.  The top shelf had a piece of cloth that hung over the edge, partially obscuring the neatly stacked triangular boxes on the second shelf.  After rearranging it so that it was prominently displayed, I took one up to the counter for purchase.

While Anthony rang up the sale, Jenni was busy pulling up information off the Internet on the store’s laptop computer to find out the story behind the incense set.  We wanted to know who made it and where they were from.

The laptop was connected to a video projector that was nestled securely on top of a small wooden platform that hung from the ceiling by two chains fastened on both sides.  The projector was aimed at a wall behind the counter for easy viewing.        

After punching in the item number into the computer, the wall behind the counter lit up with information.        

We could not believe our eyes when we read the name of the organization that made the incense. 

Silence.  

For those of you who are visiting here for the very first time, I’ve lived in a world of silence ever since I was born!

But wait, there’s more.  

According to the Ten Thousand Village website, Silence is composed of a group of hearing impaired and other physically disabled artists living in India!

Whoa, do you think that was a “coincidence”?  I mean, what are the odds of that happening? 

Marveling at the synchronicity of it all, I rushed back to the shelf and got myself another set.  How could I not?  Isn’t that a cool way to give back or what?  

No wonder the neighborhood kids thought of the store as the cool place to be!  Next time you talk to a kid, listen up.  Sometimes they know about things we adults are “too grown up” to think about.  Did you know that a couple of kids came up with the title “Chicken Soup for the Soul” that went on to become best-sellers?   

Are you curious what the incense set looked like?  Because I couldn’t find the image in the Ten Thousand Villages website, I asked Jenni to send me a picture via email.  Here it is:

For more information about Ten Thousand Villages and to find a store near you, please visit their website.  

You never know - you might even experience a moment of awe-inspiring synchronicity like I did! 

If you do, please be sure to let me know about it!  

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