65 Dollar Fraser Fir

I got my Christmas tree at a driving range. No one wants to hit golf balls in the snow, so they lease a corner of the lot to a Christmas Tree man. 
The man approached me. Is there something I can help you find? He said. 

You, I said. 
Me? 
Yes, we come here for you. 
Why is that? 
Because you are a great guy. 

There were other folks there, and I don’t need help picking out a tree, so I told him I needed him to teach me the knot he used last year to tie the tree to my car. I'll see you after he said.

We measured the tree, 8 feet tall. 
How much for this one?
That's a 7-footer. He said. 
I didn’t argue. 
That will be 65 dollars. 

We talked for a bit, and I asked questions about his tree lot and life.  

He was happy to answer my questions. 
I probably won’t be back next year, he said.
Why not? 
65-dollar Fraser firs, he said. 
Why don’t you raise your prices? 
The place wouldn’t be the same. You wouldn’t feel the same about me. Money changes things. If you go down the road, he charges more for his trees, and you don't get the experience. Everyone wants to raise prices; it's out of control, and who is going to push back against that? 

Bless You, 

• Pastor.