The petrol I got ok, but a parking space to go into the main store... another story. After finding a spot I entered what seemed like madness as people stacked their trolleys high and ignorantly blocked isles & shoved past one another in their rush to get stocked up for the Christmas period when the shops will shut for all of 1 day.
It was chaotic as I tried to squeeze down isles past people to get a bottle of milk, excused myself & apologised as I tried to squirm through to the shelf & get some bread and waited patiently while a few people blocked my path while chatting.
Becoming Bitter
People who know me, know that shopping in large crowds is not one of my strong points & patience can fly very easily out of my grasp. I'm more of a get in get out shopper, without any longing to browse around or dillydally.
So it will be no surprise to you when I tell you that before long my self control was lost & I became ruthless in my charge and when I bumped into a girl I used to work with I almost forgot to wish her a happy Christmas as my heart was so filled with frustration at being in a shop this close to Christmas.
I remember a few years ago being in Belfast with Tim Millen, who hates shopping even more than I do, and he was longing to have a light saber that he could swing in front of him, chopping up all that stood in his path. Last night that is exactly what I wanted. Or to change my name to Elijah & to call fire down in order to consume these worshippers of consumerism would have been fun.
I Should Have...
I should have had compassion on everyone else, esteemed them higher than myself & humbly, patiently waited while others sorted themselves out. I should have been praying for each person I passed & taken the Christmas opportunity to witness to my friend.
I should have let this experience drive me to my God, my Saviour thanking Him that there are no ques to Him, no payment to be made & that in His Kingdom we won't be as crazy when it comes to shops.