I’m glad Black Friday is here. It’s one more traditional event in 2020 that is not being cancelled. And we need that.
A kinder, gentler Black Friday
I’ve noticed it’s a kinder Black Friday, too. The normal hype that urges shoppers to line up at 4 a.m. in front of Best Buy on Friday morning has been replaced. Black Friday sales began earlier this week, suggesting that shoppers can be more leisurely this year.
No hostile mobs trampling each other. No climbing over other shoppers to grab the last big screen TV. No shouting or threatening bodily harm to the person who took “your” sweater from the display before you could get to it.
It truly feels more like a Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition, and not as much greed, gluttony, riot and rage.
2020 is teaching us something
So we’re learning a little, aren’t we? We’re improving as a society, being kinder and gentler today. The fears and frustrations of COVID make a difference, and it’s not all bad. They are teaching us.
And, they teach us about God’s kinder, gentler patience, too. God is not like a hyped up Black Friday where you must make your purchase on one, big day. God doesn’t put the pressure on one, big decision in your life or require you in one, big moment to bring your checkbook and be ready for a commitment.
God “is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God usually works in spoonfuls more than dump truck loads.
- God nudges.
- God sends one angel over a week instead of a million angels in a nanosecond.
- God sends a humble Sunday School teacher or a faithful pastor to share the Scriptures with you over years and years of his instruction
- God speaks to you through blogs like these, day by day, instead of shouting his thunderous voice through the clouds (recall Elijah seeking God on the mountain in 1 Kings 19:11,12 and see below).
- God waits for you to mature, to learn, to grow. And waits some more. Patiently. Gladly. Mercifully.
Enjoy a relaxing Black Friday. And be sure to take time this weekend to enjoy a God who is not anxious but gentle, kind and patient.
PRAYER: Dear God, today I remember the original Black Friday. You sent your Son to die for the sins of the world. The sky went dark when he died, like a covering being placed over his dead body. Thank you for the ultimate savings of that day, that you accepted his payment for my sins. Thank you for his resurrection, the receipt of payment that proves I am forgiven and loved. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: 1 Kings 19:11,12—The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
