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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Shopping (03/01/07)
Shopping has never been one of my favorite past times. I can think of thousands of things I would rather do instead of shopping. I am the type that runs in and gets exactly what I need and then gets out. My lack of skill at shopping concerns my friends. They are convinced I have some genetic malfunction; after all it is inbred for the female species to love to shop.

So occasionally I partake in the shopping excursion. Mostly just to have some bonding time with my friends. One particular friend has a predictable retail history. She goes to many stores making huge purchases, just to return the merchandise two days later. As you can imagine sarcasm can not be avoided. As she is buying and buying, I am there to remind her how she really doesn’t want anything she is looking at. I ask her, “What time do you want me to pick you up so we can return all of this stuff”? Lot’s of rolling of the eyes are directed at me, the anti shopper.

The way we shop is the way we do a lot of things in our lives. How about the way we handle our church life, running in getting exactly what we need, and getting out. Although satisfied, we are not giving to anyone else. This shopper also may be interested in depending on the church for their own spiritual growth, not ever learning the skills to grow on their own.

So what about the shop until you drop and then return it all later mentality? This is indicative of your church hopper. This shopper gets involved with every ministry in the church right off the bat, only later to find dissatisfaction and once again a need for spiritual feeding. The shopper was so busy she never learned the skills to grow on her own, now disappointed she returns her duties and finds a new church only to repeat history.

There is a balance between the complacent shopper and the frenzied shopper. Let’s call her the power shopper. She takes in what she needs, she uses it to shape her life, and she passes it to another who is in need of the purchase. She never depends on others to grow her spiritually, but takes responsibility for her own spiritual growth. This shopper hangs in there for the long haul, not chasing every program and production, not be overly involved, but listening to that still quiet voice for leading.

What kind of shopper are you? Maybe complacent, frenzied, or maybe you are on your way to becoming that power shopper. For most of us, we are a work in progress and are somewhere in the middle. Thankfully grace abounds.
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This article has been read 918 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Julie Moore
03/10/07
Very interesting comparison. Good sentence structure. I think this will be one of my favorites.
Jacquelyn Horne
03/10/07
Good article. And so true.
Donna Powers
03/11/07
A very valid comparison and you wrote it well. I enjoyed reading this and the lesson was clear. Nice work
Clyde Blakely
03/12/07
I "shop" like you; however, I am a man. And there's nothing wrong with the way you "shop", only makes sense :) - good analogy to shopping as Christians and so true. God bless and keep writing.
LaNaye Perkins
03/15/07
I shop like you do too, and I'm a female! Who would have known there were actually two of us out there - lol! Great comparison, gets a person to thinking about what kind of shopper they are in their Church life.
Catrina Bradley
03/15/07
Nice work! I like the lessons in the second half - great comparisons between shopping and church-going. Made me go, hmmmm. :)
Myrna Noyes
03/15/07
Interesting and thought-provoking essay! I enjoyed reading it! :)
TJ Nickel
03/15/07
You want to say what you wrote in the concluding paragraph, but it doesn't represent what you filled into the article. If it is a question and challenge, the body doesn't work. If it is a sermon, the ending doesn't work. This is a very good piece with a lot of potential in the writing, quite a lot. The problem is the voice beneath is not consistent. The ending feels like an apology for the writing in the body and takes away from the whole. I think the ending is the real point, and the body where you felt on this issue or as a writer. Yet, there is some real goodness, star quality potential, in the writing itself - showing great promise in the writer. The conflict seems to show a conflict in the writer, and God bless you for that - and best of luck in resolving it. If I'm way off, please forgive me and discount my words. If this rings true, a bless you from me and a true wish for you to keep writing. A writer without conflict has little to say. A writer whose conflict shows in the material structure, as it appears an unconscious thing is working something out. When it appears conscious and intentional, power strikes at the reader and makes them pause in awe. From your conclusion, I think this is what you were going for. God bless you for that, and for writing here at FW.
Joanne Sher 
03/15/07
This definitely made me think. Great analogies here! Gave me much to think about.
Julie Arduini
03/16/07
Solid piece! I especially loved the last line--Thankfully grace abounds. Good job!