I went to Wal-Mart with the sole purpose of picking up two items.  Of course, I ended up with four, but I digress.  The lines were horrendously long, so I opted for the self-checkout lane.  I have never used the self-checkout lane, but I wanted to save time.  I scanned my items, bagged, and paid.  When I returned home, I rifled through my bag only to discover I had two items.  Of course, they weren't the two things I really needed.  I checked the car in hopes of finding that they slipped onto the floor .  I called Wal-Mart.  So after my second trip to Wal-Mart to pick up the items I purchased on my first trip, I didn't save any time.

In this season of Advent, it leaves me wondering if I should cherish opportunities of waiting and give myself permission to slow down.

Photo by MacWagen

Comments

[casey]

I laughed out loud as soon as I saw the words "Self-checkout". I have personally had some serious challenges to my patience in those lines. When youre standing behind someone with a basket full of groceries (including produce that has to be weighed), a handful of screaming kids, and the other hand full of $1's to feed in the machine, you have an opportunity to learn a number of different life-lessons.

[Anna]

I love the self-checkouts, I have to admit. I use them almost every time, but that's because I usually only have about five items, and they have much shorter lines, and because I use them so often and I can quote what they're going to say before they say it. Haha...

[Jessi]

I'm convinced that intentionally slowing down and making the most of every opportunity is the only way to survive the season, and especially the only way for us to achieve any kind of reflection on the real meaning for the season!