meditation on shopping carts

My wife and I are empty nesters and enjoy every minute we can find to be together.  That includes a weekly trip to the grocery store. The other day, as we drove into the lot, we saw them -- shopping carts left here and there, nudged up against trees and against parking barriers.  Shopping carts here and there. Simultaneously, we both exclaimed, "Look at that!" and then . . .

we realized that here was a Gospel illustration.  Yes, in shopping carts.

First, here was the doctrine of sin in living color.  What is so significant about shopping carts left all over the lot?  Well, it is simple -- people will not walk the extra twenty feet to put them where they belong.  Why?  They are in a hurry.  Their time is too valuable.  That's what the store clerks are for.  They will put it where it is safe but who says they have to go back into those little shopping cart corrals? 

That, in the simplest, terms is a revelation of the pride, laziness, self-serving nature of our hearts.  It is the doctrine of sin lived out.  Its just a piece of fruit on a tree and I am hungry -- who is God to tell me I cannot eat it?  Its just incense offered to God.  I will come up with my own formula for incense that I life -- I will express myself in worship in a way that shows the true me.  It's the ark of the covenant and the oxen stumbled -- I had to touch it to keep it safe.  Surely God will understand.  It's just a shopping cart -- surely you exaggerate the meaning of people not putting it away?  No, I do not.  All of the incidents I mentioned other than the shopping cart seem minor too -- and the perpetrators all died.  Sin is sin.

Second, it reveals self-righteousness.  That's what my wife and I heard in our comments -- "How can people be so lazy?", meaning, "I am not lazy and they are."  The truth is that I am just as lazy but I am also self-righteous.  I judge others and condemn myself for doing the same things.

Third, all that points to the need for a Savior.  Our selfishness and arrogance show up everywhere. I am too important to have to take 32 seconds to return a shopping cart.  Serve me, slave!  Don't ask me to serve you.  If sin is so pervasive in my soul, then surely a savior is required.  I cannot save myself if my deepest and first instinct is to serve myself, not serve others.  But Jesus came not to be served, but to serve -- he took no thought of himself though he was/is God.  he laid down his life for us and would not even lay down our 30 seconds to return a shopping cart,

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Awesome post! I normally fall into the self-righteous category with a lot of things...prideful sinner that I am. Our intern had a great sermon this past week which touched on comparing ourselves to others. (http://lfcwv.org/pages/index.php?pID=31)He was very honest and humble about the fact that he struggles with that. Thanks so much for sharing that you struggle with self-righteousness too. It's so easy to put pastors up on a pedestal and think that they don't struggle with such things.

I for one am a Mom with three kids ages four and under, but I don't think that that excuses us. It is more work to return the cart. I don't leave the kids in the vehicle while I'm returning it as that would not be safe. I put the groceries in my van and the kids and I return the cart before going to be the van to go home. Hopefully, this will set a good example for my kids not to expect to be served and to make sacrifices, but I'll also have to guard against them having a self-righteous attitude about it. Thanks for sharing!!

[Bethany]

Great points. But on the self righteous point be sure to look at the whole picture before condemning others sins as you pointed out.

Okay on the shopping cart front...I have to say I am guilty sometimes....I admit it. My excuse (you know I had to have the reason why I am the exception) I have three small children and once remember seeing on the news that a baby was stolen from the car when the mother was returning the cart so hey my kids are more important. I try to park near the return things and request carry out when available (and when I park far out try to grab one of those lose carts and do my part)but all you empty nesters when you see a young mom struggling in the parking lot you might offer to return her cart for her (which many kind souls have done for me)....because really sin is all about heart motives right. HEE HEE. :)

[Bethth]

I would disagree with the assessment that everyone who leaves a cart nudged somewhere safe is lazy. I am a mom of 2 little ones under the age of 4 and a six month prego belly and I would say many of us put them back when we can find a parking spot close enought to a corral thing. But the sad thing is in the dangerous area where I live, I can't risk walking 20-30 feet away while my little ones sit alone in the van. Just another perspective. Mom's with kids have the worst luck at the store. I choose saftey of my children if I must choose.
Just FYI-

[ElizabethB]

We lived in Germany for 4 years. Everyone returns their shopping carts there....

No, they're not less selfish, they cost money to rent, and you don't get your money back until the cart is back in its spot, chained to another cart.

In Germany, luggage carts are free and they're left all over like shopping carts are here.

I've heard that some Aldi stores here in the States charge rent money for carts as well--I bet everyone returns their cart at those stores!

Many people have a small plastic coin the size of the shopping cart coin, but they want that back, too, so they still return their cart.

[Corey Reynolds]

Well, did you Josiah up and return 'em all yourself?

[Bill W]

Thanks Mark, you stated it much better and more diplomatic than I ever could. Sometime please include the self-centered runners and bikers that push the button at the signal light and when it signals Walk, they run or ride! (The button isn't to alert the system the person is there it alerts the system to add 30 to 45 seconds to the cars waiting, so they can WALK.)

[Matt Anderson]

As a former courtesy clerk for a major regional grocery store, I heartily applaud and agree with your analysis.

After pushing carts back in to the store from a quarter mile away, I realized that I would never again leave the grocery store without returning my cart to the stall.

[Gord]

excellent illustration.

it just shows how subtle sin is in each of our lives. its like an invisible poison that keeps eating away at us. most times we don't even notice it in ourselves. thanks for pointing out that we have constant need of a saviour.

Jesus is not just our saviour on the day we were saved, but he must also be our saviour each moment of every day.

its a lifestyle - a Jesus-lifestyle!

blessings.

[Ched]

I will most likely remember this the next time I wheel a shopping cart out of the store, and will be able to reflect on the implications of the gospel!

Thank you for this good word.

[Josh Chavers]

Glad to know I'm not the only one that has ever thought that.
Something else similar I've noticed lately in parking lots, is the inability for some to park between the lines.
Next time you're at the grocery store with your wife, see if you can find this. My observations found several senior citizens parking in the "Handicapped" spots with no desire to even attempt to park straight. My hunch is this reveals a similar pride and arrogance that you speak of in regards to shopping carts.

[Pastor B]

I am a pastor and just like you my wife and I are empty nesters. Yes we have our weekly or bi-weekly shopping experience and your insight here was very interesting. As I was reading the first part I found myself thinking about those who leave shopping carts being exactly like the people in our church who want elders and staff to do everything. In my mind I was thinking "how lazy and self absorbed is our culture." But then what got me was the second part of your blog where you talked about your self righteousness as you sat there condemning others. How often am I so quick to point out the faults and sins of others and yet I am so blind of my own. How wonderful is God to allow a shopping cart to show me my need to repent!

Blessings