Not Surprised

An older friend of mine said, “If you’re out and about can you grab some things for me. I need toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and peaches.” Immediately, I thought, “Good luck on that.”  But then I thought I wouldn’t need to go out for several days and surely things will start to settle down by then and there should be no problem. I saw a post that said, certain stores would reserve their opening hour at each branch for the elderly. I thought I’d give it a try and see if I could find her requests.

I almost titled this post as “Mission Impossible,” but decided to give it a college try. I stopped at three stores; two were chain companies and one was a local vendor. I wasn’t surprised that the stores were empty of those products. Many bare shelves greeted me. What good is it to allow the elderly in to shop when shelves are bare? Is this a taste of Socialism? When I commented about the missing products, I felt the frustration of the clerk. Perhaps she thought I was another complaining customer. When I mentioned “That’s just crazy, I’m surprised that these people don’t attack the truck drivers making deliveries.”

A disgusted look crossed the clerk’s face and she shared, “I was unpacking a carton of toilet paper. I was attacked by customers who rushed me and took the packages before I could put them on the shelves.”

I commented I was a retired nurse, and I understood. I had to deal with the public as well. Some of them were nearly as crazed as this.

I’m not surprised that people have gotten so fearful and greedy. After the Great Depression, parents tried to give their children things that they never had growing up; things that were too scarce or too expensive. The following generations got used to having what they needed which then evolved into always getting what they wanted,. They often had no respect to the parents who birthed them, loved them, and gave them the things they have.

As Christians, we need to be the salt and light of the world. We need to show to others the love of Christ and not be fearful in this panicked world. We need to reach out to others in distress. Although we Christians are living in this world, we are not to be of this world. Our treasures lie in heaven and not here on earth. All that is not done for the honor and glory of God is but chaff to be blown away or stubble that will be burned, and yes, that includes toilet paper.