Today was our biggest test. You see, we’ve joined in The Compact. Google it and you’ll find plenty to read about it. Simply put we have agreed to not purchase anything new for the rest of the year aside from medicine, underwear, food, and maybe something else (I don’t really remember). Instead you’re supposed to buy or barter for used or recycled things. It was kind of funny actually, we were doing some research about it and then just decided to do it. It wasn’t until the next day when we went to buy something that we realized what we had gotten ourselves into. For some reason we didn’t realize the severity of the pledge we had made. We don’t buy much stuff anyway we thought…wrong…
One week into it and there we found ourselves at the grand opening of the largest and coolest Fred Meyer’s known to man. Facing insurmountable odds we were able to traverse the store without breaking our promise. I was proud of my wife, proud of myself, proud of our resolve.
I’ll keep you up to date as to how this goes. I’m very excited about how God is going to use this to shape us this year, to separate us from the consumerism that has controlled us and our country, and to save us a pile of money that we don’t really have.
On a separate note, after going to the store we last minute went and checked out SCRAP a recycled art store in Portland. It was pretty amazing. But while we were there Jones was mesmerized by a box of old highlighters, pens, and markers. He stumbled across a permanent marker that he is NOT allowed to play with at home. But at the store I thought I’d let him give it a try. Here is how the following conversation went:
ME: Jonesy you know you’re not supposed to play with permanent markers. But if you make good choices I’ll let you play with it right now. What do you think?
Jones: I’ll be careful.
ME: Ok, I’m going to trust you.
JONES: Don’t trust me! Do not trust me! I’m a fragile boy.
ME: What? No, trust means that I believe that you will make good choices, I trust you. I believe you when you say you’re going to make a good choice.
JONES: (as he grabs my face and then points at me) Daddy, do not trust me. Do not ever ever trust me. I’m a fragile little boy. I’m glass.
ME: You’re what (trying not to laugh)?
JONES: I’m glass, I’m a fragile boy. Do not ever trust me ok?
ME: I don’t think you understand…but ok.