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Saturday, December 06, 2008

Breaking down doors: how to REALLY measure commitment

Leonard Pitts, syndicated columnist, and a good one, muses about the recent Black Friday stampedes. I'm linking, for the first time, to Moscow News, which has an article about the incident. (It really is a small world, isn't it?) This news article speaks of a Wal-Mart employee who died in a stampede as a "sacrificial victim to the pagan gods of consumerism."

Mr. Pitts uses the lining-up-early-and-pushing-against-the-door test to measure our priorities. He points out that he hasn't seen people lining up early and breaking the glass in libraries, schools, or churches, but we do this for bargains. Which, as he says, tells us something about ourselves. Something not so good, I guess.

As John put it: 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

I wasn't at any retail store, pushing on the door, on Black Friday. But I wasn't storming the gates of heaven, either.

Thanks for reading.

2 comments:

Pilgrim said...

I spent last night and this morning at a gathering on disability. I thought your title meant your article might refer to breaking down barriers for people. :-)
I don't see the crowds pushing against doors of nursing homes and outdated institutions housing those with disabilities, either.

Martin LaBar said...

Nope. I don't, either.

I sometimes do see, or hear about, people mobbing entertainment and sports events, and some job opportunities, as well as stores announcing bargains.

Thanks, Julana.