Intrigued and thankful today for the silent warnings, God, through His Spirit, gives us. In the midst of a fairly mundane Tuesday, I decided to venture out and grab some stuff at the store…all throughout my drive to Japanese 100 Yen Store (yes, they have one in Thailand!), I kept finding myself rather melancholy.
Was it that being around all the 100 Yen goodies made me ache for Okinawa? Yeah, probably….yeah, partially.
As I drove home, I thought to myself, “Hey I should stop at the pottery shop and look for…” Stuff.
That’s when it dawned on me…that silent warning system perked up again and I realized God’s loving hand as He began to reveal the source of this consternation…I’m flirting with stuff again.
Maybe it’s because I need a reprieve from getting my literary teeth kicked in by my editor…maybe it’s because our friend is bringing a big ole EXTRA suitcase from America with goodies from our friend, Amazon. Either way, I’ve been thinking a LOT about a new iphone 4S (hey, it comes unlocked!)…the pottery store was really just to check for this polka-dotted porcelain that somehow I’ve been convinced is a must have here in Thailand. Pottery or phone, I’m finding myself looking for some thing to meet some where in my heart.
It’s so easy, isn’t it? Momentary happiness from a purchase innoculously buoys the spirit. I would go down dying saying that shopping is not sinful…(even though at times it is simply dreadful)…one day when there’s enough extra, I will probably get an iphone…but it’s that today I was taking a neutral experience and shoving it down my soul hoping for some lasting effect. Actually, life is really good right now…just got back from a 2 day get-away with Buddy, the kids are happy, the dissertation is eeking along…just goes to show that you don’t have to be down and out to flirt with stuff of Earth and demand satisfaction.
Isaiah knew…..”Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare”…the richest of fare…the One, True God that helps even when we don’t think we need it…satisfies us at every step…silently warns of the pain of getting Him and stuff mixed up.
Grateful today…Jen