Black Friday

This morning at 4:15am, my cell phone alarm went off. I reached over, turned it off, and sat up.

"What on earth am I doing up this early?" was the question I asked myself.

I proceeded to jump, rather crawl, into the shower. After getting dressed, I walked out the door around 4:50am.

I arrive at the Wal-Mart parking lot at 4:55am. I remember the time because I was trying to decide if I wanted to stand outside for five minutes or wait in my car until they opened the doors. I figured it wasn't that cold, so I would join the small army gathered outside the doors of this temple of consumerism.

After a few minutes, the doors opened. The herd - since this is what a group of people look like at 5:00am leaning in one direction - bolted into the store. I watched some of them walk briskly. Others decided to forgo the facade and simply ran. A few hundred people charging for their deal of choice.

Let me stop here for a minute. As many of you may know, this day is known as "Black Friday" because it is the day retailers begin to make a profit - or something to that effect.

I would say the name is right, but for a different reason. There didn't seem to be much "light" present this morning. I'm not referring to the lack of sunlight at 5:00am. I am referring to the lack of things like kindness, patience, and humility. It seems rather ironic to me that the "official" kickoff to a season originally centered around someone known by names such as the "Prince of Peace" and "Lamb of God" would look more like an episode of Jerry Springer or a scene from the LA riots.

I was amazed as I watched people push and shove. Some people grabbed as much as they could fit in their shopping cart - or carts. I saw one women go to an island of board games and grab nearly a dozen of each game and drop them in her cart. Some folks were in such a hurry to get the best deals that they decided to forsake the cart and just grab as much as they could carry.

As everyone was invading the store like soldiers on a seek-and-destroy mission, I witnessed very few smiles and a general lack of cheer. Isn't that the whole point of the season "tidings of good cheer"?

Now don't get me wrong. I was there this morning to purchase a few items on behalf of my wife, who was shopping with her sister at some stores several miles away. We decided to "divide and conquer" so we could be good stewards of what we have to spend for Christmas this year. I am not opposed to shopping early to save money. (Well, maybe I am opposed to getting up THIS early. But I try to be a good husband.)

My challenge this morning - and the challenge for all us during this time of year - is to continue to be beacons of light in the midst of darkness. We are called to be kind, patient, humble, and loving, even when those around us are not.

Let me finish with one brief story. I tell you this not to brag, but to give a small example of what I believe this light looks like.

I approached the island of children's pajamas. It was surrounded by people digging through, looking for the size they wanted. As the crowd dispersed and there were only a few people left, I noticed that many of the packages were now on the floor around the display. No one really seemed to care as they headed off for their next conquest.

It took less than a minute, but I knelt down and picked up the packages, returning them to the display. I am not sure if anyone noticed, and it really doesn't matter.

I don't think what I did is any big accomplishment. It's not really worthy of praise. But in the midst of a Black Friday where greed and self-centeredness seem to rule the day, I was presented with an opportunity to be light and took it.

Following Jesus doesn't normally consist of big things. While we occasionally have a chance to do something "big" for God, true cross-centered living tends to reveal itself in the mundane tasks of life like shopping. It's in these moments of normalcy that we can take small steps that can change the world one person at a time.

shine!
Jason