Crazy Eyed
This past Friday, I experienced something that I told myself I would never do. I stayed up all night to await the store opening of our local Wal-Mart, and participate in the after-thanksgiving craziness known to the world as “Black Friday.”
Having worked in retail for several years, I had been on the store side of the craziness before. I had stood inside the nice warm store and looked out at the crazy-eyed shoppers waiting to storm the gates. The experience left a foul impression, and once I was no longer working in retail, I assured my wife that I was never going to be one of “those people.”
However, this Friday, something was different. My wife was in need of a new computer, and Wal-Mart was offering a laptop at an exceptionally low price. My dread of becoming one of the crazy-eyed shoppers was pushed from my mind by my desire to bless my wife with what she needed and desired.
Afraid I wouldn’t wake at the alarm, I stayed up all night. Then, just before 4 AM, I downed a hot coffee and my wife and I headed to the store. When we pulled into the parking lot, we were amazed at the number of people already there. Forty to Fifty people were lined up along the store, the first in line still wrapped in their sleeping bags.
The hour leading up to the store opening went quickly as we conversed with the others in line. Each person echoed the same desire; they had come for the laptop. As the minutes ticked down, the line began to move. Then with a burst of energy, the line surged forward and people began to race into the store. Clerks leapt out of the aisles avoiding the stampede while others tried to run with the bulls. Carts crashed and displays were jostled as the crowd surged to electronics. Just as quickly as the line surged forward, the crowd came to a sudden halt.
The laptops were being sold from the photo kiosk, and the crowd quickly surrounded it. People at the front were smashed into the counters, hardly able to breathe as the crowd continued to push. Then the news began to filter through the crowd. There were only 14 laptops available. The crazy-eyed shoppers became frantic. They began to wave their hands, shout and scream, each hoping the clerk would look their way and select them from the crowd.
Fourteen people left with a laptop that morning. The rest went home without. As I reflected on the experience, I realized there were three different types of people that morning.
There were the people who would suffer discomfort to be sure they didn’t miss their opportunity. They sat in the winter air with their backs knotted from lying on the cold concrete. They fought off the people who tried to steal their place at the front of the line. They didn’t care about the cost. What they wanted was worth it.
The second group came later, their attitude different than the first. They were willing to put up with some discomfort for a chance, but if they didn’t get one it didn’t matter. These, when the news filtered through the crowd, said, “Fourteen? Oh well, I tried,” then shrugged and walked away.
The last group stayed home, their warm beds comforting their muscles, their soft pillows resting their heads. This group had the attitude that the item wasn’t worth their time or energy. It wasn’t important enough to suffer even the slightest bit of discomfort.
There are three types of people who pray for souls, and pray for their churches. The crazy-eyed Christians will suffer through all-night prayer meetings. They will suffer the discomfort because what they desire from God is worth it. The second will pray some, but if they don’t get from God what they ask for, it’s okay. They gave it a shot, oh well. The last? Well, they’ll be to church on Sunday… if they don’t over sleep.
Having worked in retail for several years, I had been on the store side of the craziness before. I had stood inside the nice warm store and looked out at the crazy-eyed shoppers waiting to storm the gates. The experience left a foul impression, and once I was no longer working in retail, I assured my wife that I was never going to be one of “those people.”
However, this Friday, something was different. My wife was in need of a new computer, and Wal-Mart was offering a laptop at an exceptionally low price. My dread of becoming one of the crazy-eyed shoppers was pushed from my mind by my desire to bless my wife with what she needed and desired.
Afraid I wouldn’t wake at the alarm, I stayed up all night. Then, just before 4 AM, I downed a hot coffee and my wife and I headed to the store. When we pulled into the parking lot, we were amazed at the number of people already there. Forty to Fifty people were lined up along the store, the first in line still wrapped in their sleeping bags.
The hour leading up to the store opening went quickly as we conversed with the others in line. Each person echoed the same desire; they had come for the laptop. As the minutes ticked down, the line began to move. Then with a burst of energy, the line surged forward and people began to race into the store. Clerks leapt out of the aisles avoiding the stampede while others tried to run with the bulls. Carts crashed and displays were jostled as the crowd surged to electronics. Just as quickly as the line surged forward, the crowd came to a sudden halt.
The laptops were being sold from the photo kiosk, and the crowd quickly surrounded it. People at the front were smashed into the counters, hardly able to breathe as the crowd continued to push. Then the news began to filter through the crowd. There were only 14 laptops available. The crazy-eyed shoppers became frantic. They began to wave their hands, shout and scream, each hoping the clerk would look their way and select them from the crowd.
Fourteen people left with a laptop that morning. The rest went home without. As I reflected on the experience, I realized there were three different types of people that morning.
There were the people who would suffer discomfort to be sure they didn’t miss their opportunity. They sat in the winter air with their backs knotted from lying on the cold concrete. They fought off the people who tried to steal their place at the front of the line. They didn’t care about the cost. What they wanted was worth it.
The second group came later, their attitude different than the first. They were willing to put up with some discomfort for a chance, but if they didn’t get one it didn’t matter. These, when the news filtered through the crowd, said, “Fourteen? Oh well, I tried,” then shrugged and walked away.
The last group stayed home, their warm beds comforting their muscles, their soft pillows resting their heads. This group had the attitude that the item wasn’t worth their time or energy. It wasn’t important enough to suffer even the slightest bit of discomfort.
There are three types of people who pray for souls, and pray for their churches. The crazy-eyed Christians will suffer through all-night prayer meetings. They will suffer the discomfort because what they desire from God is worth it. The second will pray some, but if they don’t get from God what they ask for, it’s okay. They gave it a shot, oh well. The last? Well, they’ll be to church on Sunday… if they don’t over sleep.
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