Devotion

I’m intrigued by the little altars that business owners set up in a prominent position in their shop. Many have relatively fresh strung flowers and usually incense burning. We noticed that many of the tiny little shops in markets have some form of plant or flower hanging above the entrance—again to represent a prayer, I assume for good business…but I need to ask more questions about this. This devotional practice somehow sunk into my memory when I noticed one of these altars in a place that felt familiar to me, a totally perfect replica of a Levis store I’ve frequented in the US. And there behind the computerized cash register was a little altar and a string of almost fresh flowers. I can’t stop thinking about the guy (and I do assume it’s a guy—but maybe that’s wrong of me) who tends this altar…answering to his higher power—Corporate Office.