November 28, 2008
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Walmart
& the Meaning of ChristmasThe story below has a familiar ring to it in an odd sort of way…………
(My comments following the story excerpt.)
Love, Bee
P.S. The analogy is not perfect by a long shot, but it was close enough to cause me to stop and think.Worker dies at Long Island Wal-Mart after being trampled in Black Friday stampede
A Wal-Mart worker died after being trampled when hundreds of
shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island store Friday
morning, police and witnesses said.The 34-year-old worker, employed as an overnight stock clerk, tried to
hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened
at 5 a.m.Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He
fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and
around him.“He was bum-rushed by 200 people,” said Jimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker.
“They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in
front of me. They took me down too…I literally had to fight people
off my back.”…..Before police shut down the store, eager shoppers streamed past
emergency crews as they worked furiously to save the store clerk’s life.“They were working on him, but you could see he was dead, said Halcyon Alexander, 29. “People were still coming through.”
Only a few stopped.
“They’re savages,” said shopper Kimberly Cribbs, 27. “It’s sad. It’s terrible.”
Can you imagine it is Christmas morning and someone is looking at a
particular gift under the tree. It is the one that was purchased at
Walmart that fateful day when an innocent man was murdered by an insane
crowd. He was the keeper of the door and his bruised and trampled body
had allowed them access to that very gift…. and the whole thing
happened on a Friday. It was the Friday after which people were
gathered together with their families for a holiday supper of thanks, (and that was the last supper this man ate with his family and friends.)The incredible guilt that person must feel as they gaze at that gift
under the tree… if they choose to feel at all… the blood of that
man is on their hands. They would never have enough money to pay for
what that gift really cost!
Doesn’t that story sound kind of familiar?
Think back… way way back.And Christmas is only the beginning.
Your gift is waiting…
at the foot of an old rugged tree.Wise men still seek Him!!!
Comments (7)
Well said … it is an incredibly sad story and yet somewhat reflective of where we have arrived as a society. Another part of the story is that a pregnant mother may also have been injured and miscarried and lost her child … a son?
Has the pressure to be the perfect ‘Santa Claus’ and uphold the mythical lie to one’s children and family, become so pressure laden and caused us to forget the very reason for the season?
At the same time, the stores are also not without blame. They put something on sale at an incredible price and yet a limited volume to incite shopper frenzy. The fact that they did not shut that store down until they have questioned every single person in the store shows the power of the almighty retail dollar and the limited value placed on human life when sales and profits are at stake.
Thanks for reminding us Bee!
Bernie
Yes I heard this on the radio driving home from work. I am sooo sad, heart ache about how people are today!!! Life means so little for so many people! Praying for this person family, and friends.
After reading the story (which I heard my husband mention earlier this afternoon) I read your comments…and I literally had chills.
How our greed and desires make us so mean!…. to hear what these people did makes me upset, angry, disgusted… but our sins and how we react/act towards God, Jesus and the Cross…. it’s the same thing.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I needed to reminded of just how human I am…and just how much I needed Jesus to die on the Cross.
What a wonderful God we have.
People have gotten so greedy. It’s a crying shame.
P.S. I came from Mandolyn’s recommend.
That is such a sad story! Heard about it yesterday, but you really bring it to light! Just awful!
Oh what is going to happen next? The misplaced values just hurt my heart…Can you imagine the pain this poor security guard’s family must be feeling? How horrible.
That is why I hate these stores this time of year…Has our society become this shallow? I guess the answer is “yes”. Just look at the election results.
Bless you Bee for your interesting thoughts and parallels…yes, the same spirit of Herod and the World system is very present.