I’ve
come to the
point that I
really hate
going
grocery
shopping!
There’s
always the
hassle of
finding a
parking spot
within a
mile of the
doors which
results in
the ever
pleasant,
car dodging,
exhaust
inhaling
hike. Then,
having to
wrestle the
carts apart
because
apparently,
the bag boys
weld them
together
once they’re
lined up for
the next
person.
Not to
mention my
all time
favorite
annoyance,
the
let’s-insult-the-intelligence-of-our-customers-
by- putting
-the milk-
at –the-
back-corner-
of- the-
store ploy.
Do they
think we
have
‘stupid’
tattooed on
our
foreheads?
I’ll admit
this
marketing
strategy
works on me
because I
inevitably
grab
something I
need that I
had no
intention of
purchasing.
But
these
irritations
are not the
reason I
despise
going for
groceries
which, by
the way,
never used
to bother me
in the
least. No,
there is a
very
different,
much more
sinister
reason
that’s far
more serious
than what is
listed
above.
I cannot
help but
watch the
other
shoppers
innocently
going about
their
business,
choosing
produce,
trying to
get the
attention of
the guy in
the deli or
telling the
kids that,
no, they are
not going to
get the
gummy bear
cereal they
want because
it’s not
good for
them and
working to
hush the
subsequent
whining.
When I
look at the
incredible
variety of
fruits and
vegetables
available,
the fresh
meals ready
to take home
and isle
after isle
filled with
thousands of
products, I
shudder. The
people
around me
have no clue
what is
coming. And
if they’ve
heard of the
rapture and
tribulation,
they either
don’t
believe or
don’t care!
They
don’t
understand
that
civilization
as we’ve
always known
it, is about
to be turned
on its head.
I see them
content,
humming as
they bag
their
apples,
knowing one
day in the
not too
distant
future
having an
apple, even
an old one,
will be a
treasure
that they
might have
to fight
others to
keep!
I always
visualize
the fresh
produce
department
empty, the
deli only a
pleasant
memory and
the bakery
darkened.
The shelves
of canned
goods,
snacks, soft
drinks and
boxed items
that will
have only a
small
variety from
which to
choose. And
the most
horrific
image I see
are the
people in
line to
check out
that don’t
have the
mark of the
beast;
people who
are hungry,
desperate
and harassed
by the staff
and
customers
who are
waiting to
get on with
their day.
They
will be
rudely
turned away
and forced
to leave the
store empty
handed. I
imagine an
officer will
pull them
aside and
offer to
give them a
meal if they
will
accompany
him to the
government
center so
they can
receive the
mark they
must have to
buy or sell.
Think of the
gut
wrenching
decision
they’ll have
to make as
they look
into the
starving
eyes of
their
family,
knowing they
will be
permanently
damned to an
eternity of
hell if they
take that
mark. But if
they resist,
they’ll
continue to
suffer,
being forced
to search
dumpsters
for scraps
of something
edible or
even risk
being hunted
down,
imprisoned
and
executed!
They can
no longer
rely on the
kindness of
strangers.
There is no
kindness on
earth
anymore. The
ones who
were truly
loving and
kind
disappeared
a few years
before and
those left
behind
turned into
virtual
animals who
wouldn’t
think twice
about
cutting your
throat for
the little
bit of food
you had left
in your
house.
For
those with
the mark,
society will
seem to be
getting back
on its feet
because the
President of
the World
comes to
power.
They’ll view
those
stubborn
holdouts
that refuse
to conform,
as a
nuisance and
danger and
will readily
betray them
to the
authorities,
even if they
are family
members!
How do I
tell my
fellow
shoppers
what is
coming? Do I
pull on
their sleeve
with tears
in my eyes
and beg them
to listen?
They’d most
likely jerk
away and
accuse me of
being the
nut-case on
the corner,
holding up a
sign
stating,
“The End Is
Near--
Repent!”
They are too
busy going
on about
their lives,
oblivious to
the horror
to come.
Can’t say I
blame them.
It’s
not like
they will
hear the
warning of
the
‘watchmen on
the wall’ in
their
church! I
highly doubt
they would
sit still
for an hour
or so of old
fashioned,
fire and
brimstone
preaching.
Nope, that
wouldn’t
tickle their
ears and
allow them
to leave
church
feeling
satisfied
they’d done
their duty
for the week
before God.
And heaven
knows
keeping the
attendance
up is the
most
important
thing their
pastor can
do besides
booking that
up and
coming,
Christian
rock band.
The only
way I know
to tell them
is by
writing all
the warnings
I can while
there is
still time.
I hope many,
many people
will end up
reading
this; I hope
these words
get under
their skin
like a
splinter,
irritating
their hearts
until they
make things
right with
Almighty
God.
A storm
is coming.
The ark is
almost ready
and unless
they repent
and come to
Christ, they
will miss
the boat.
It’s a
rather
nauseating,
thought,
isn’t it?
And THAT
is why I
hate grocery
shopping.
