“I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything.” John 15
I have shared this before and it is still true and still relevant. Shopping at the grocery store for me is typically an in and out, attack and conquer, win the time game experience.
Let me share – I have a mental map of where things are and I follow these basic principles:
- Unless I am getting frozen items or more than three items I don’t get a cart.
- Only go down the isles where there is an item I planned on ahead of time filling a need or want.
- Remember that the prices of items at “eye level are typically higher than the rest of the display.
At the grocery store I am a competitive cashier line person. It is my goal to be in the faster line and also be closest to what might be the next line to open. I love the feeling when I win the game. And I feel a little defeated when I chose the wrong line. Silly sounding to those of you who are not competitive, but it is a great game. Let me give you a few tips.
- Do I recognize any of the cashiers to be the slower ones in scanning or the talkative ones causing delays?
- How many items total does it look like each line has and how many carts? There is a definite ratio of some kind, maybe 9-10 items equal an actual transaction of payment.
- In looking at the carts are there so many items in any cart that might make the loading area full and cause delays?
- Is there multiple people in one transaction making the line look deceptively long?
In short, lines are not very often our friend. The point is “I came and conquered the shopping list and I am getting out.”
Now for me there is something different about going to a Sporting Goods Store. I buy many things, but I look and appreciate and dream of an unlimited credit card, unlimited storage space, and unlimited time for – boats, quads, canoes, backpacking equipment, hunting items, and anything that is a cool water activity. I know my weaknesses.
The point of all this is – time with God is not a fast transaction that I need to get done as quick as possible, nor is it something that I should be finding shortcuts to get it over with quickly. It needs to more like me shopping in the sporting goods area. Appreciate God. Remember God at work. Get some anticipation of who He is and what He can do. Cherish the moments. Know that my investment in time with Him is going to change my life.