Black and Bruised Friday

The recent Black Friday is one of the main reasons that I do not go shopping on that day. It is much too dangerous. It reminds me of one of the food chains famous slogan but please allow me to change it slightly: "31 Million Served - 57 Injured".

Reports of people getting pepper sprayed but hostile customers, a grandpa getting run over, hundreds suffering injuries, people getting robbed, stun-gunning of customers, shop lifting reports by the hundreds, store security personnel being overwhelmed. It is just not worth it to me. All of this just to save some money. People have died from shopping on this day. It is like they are saying, "release the hounds. " It is ironic that one day after a holiday geared toward being thankful, holiday shoppers are people you want to stay out of the way of for fear of being trampled under foot.

Why do we seem to be so desperate to save money at the expense of the considerations of others? Do we really need this day anymore? I know it is traditional but it is like a veritable running of the bulls. Some traditions are just not worth it. I choose to stay home and shop online. It is much safer and certainly more peaceful.

Statistically, there is more shoplifting on this day than on any other day of the year. We are stealing, bullying people, shoving and pushing, and doing anything we can to save a few dollars. Some of the stores this year opened at midnight on Black Friday. A few even opened at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening - all for the sake of saving some money. It seems to me that the stores are just as responsible for this as some of the customers. Why do they insist on opening a literal floodgate for a select, lucky few while the vast majority will arrive too late to claim any real savings? Are stores that desperate to make money that they endanger the safety and welfare of their customers?

The Los Angles Fire Department had to respond on Thursday night to at least 10 people being injured in a line of people waiting for a Wal-Mart store to open up at 10 p.m. Millions of shoppers go from a day of giving thanks to a day of wanton greed. It saddens me to see the thankfulness on Thanksgiving Day turn into a war zone where older people and children are at most risk. No wonder Santa delivers gifts in the middle of the night. He fears for his life.

Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul and to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus was asked in Matthew 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." How terrible that many make a mad dash for the stores to buy gifts at all costs while missing the true reason for this season. You won't find peace on earth and good will toward men in the malls during Christmas shopping.

Which is safer? The running of the bulls or shopping on Black Friday? You probably already know the answer to that. The greatest gift ever given was something that no one could afford to buy yet it was completely free (John 3:16).

Originally published on Jack Wellman's Blog

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