Consumerism in an enlightened economy.

Despite the big title this blog is about shopping. For over two and a half months, the buses in my region have been on strike leaving many stay at home moms, the elderly and students with little or no way to get to where they need to get during the working hours of the day. Churches can step in here for those who have absolutely no where to find transportation, an opportunity to show compassion. We live in a world that needs to shop. We shop for basic needs like food, but we love to just get out of the house for no reason at all to spend something on our kids or on ourselves. The malls this time in the new year are winding down from the busiest season on the calender and with the buses not running here in Markham, the mall is relatively a quiet place to do some shopping. I have to add a warning.

Not everything you may think you need is something you should pursue. Most of us at around spring time like to empty our our closets and prepare for summer shopping, it's at this point that the cloths we have been wearing for several years we feel need to be updated. Question: What if you waited an entire year and only bought one or two new items of clothing for yourself? Do you think you could do it? It reminds me of the 40 day fast that Jesus took, but would a cloths fast make you more holy? Despite the obvious pun, there are times when we desperately need something, and our needs can turn into necessity very easily.

I love going to the local mall, but I must say that this 12 week or so fast of not having the means to get to the malls during the day, has brought me a better mental health, and has re-prioritised what is really necessary.

this is mike.

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