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I am a pastor and a clinical psychotherapist. My life's passion is defining healthiness from a human perspective and paralleling it to the holiness of God, divine perspective. Shifting perspectives creates a paradigm that is alongside of rather than over and against. The parakalein of God and the paradoxes of humanity are redefined. Humanity is all about winning and yet we are losing ground everywhere. Divinity is all about letting go of the desire to win and the fear of loss. The Divine embraces the world with loving care regardless of anything.

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Grand Slam Grand Opening

Posted by Don Paine


A Grand Slam Grand Re-Opening

The Public Market in West Stockbridge had a reopening holiday weekend.

In a day when huge multifaceted electronic communication devices and huge superstore markets this little “Ma and Pa” Shop reopened with a resurgence and revitalization that goes to the depth of human experience of community.  We have so many ways to connect why is their so much non connectivity. Why so much loneliness when we have so many people and so many ways of communicating.? Have we missed the art of "eye gazing into another's heart?"

The "Public Market" gives a hint!

Four distinct differences mark this as more than a “public market”.


11)   People say hello to you whether they know you or not as you come into the store even sometimes before you get in the front door.
22)   The personnel are all personal (they often know your name), friendly, and helpful.
33)   Products of all kinds are personally prepared, wrapped with care, and neatly offered to you.
44)   You are wished a good day and feel better after you go out of the store regardless of how much or how little you depend.

It was a grand slam of a weekend and a slam dunk for a place to stop even to go out of the way for.

As a local yokel,
I go in nearly every day.  It is a joy to be wished well and to wish others well every day. 

It is more than a “Public Market” it is a “Community Market Center”.  It is life the way it used to be and always should be.

As a note when I first came to West Stockbridge I needed someone to walk my dog.  I checked with Ann Fallon who was the then owner of the market and she gave me the name of Tim Butterworth who provided wonderful care and companionship for my dog while I was at work in Albany.  So whatever you need you can find help at the market as Tim Walsh and Andrea, the new owners pick up the same community minded focus of the past into the future.

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