SENTINEL WATCH February 15, 2010 Issue

YOU AREN'T WHAT YOU BUY

EVAN MEHLENBACHER

HAVE YOU ever craved a time-out from shopping? Some people love to shop and can't imagine staying away from the mall on the weekend. But plenty of us would be happy to trade a trip to the store for moments of peace in our living rooms. That's why late last year, this line from a newspaper article caught my attention: "Germany's highest court ruled that stores must stay closed on Advent Sundays so Germans can spend those days, as many traditionally do, going on walks and sitting for coffee and cake" (The Christian Science Monitor, December 21, 2009).

"Wow!" was my initial reaction. This was a verdict designed to make room for quiet time with family and friends—and maybe even for prayer—by slowing down hectic consumerism. I wondered, Was it going to work?

A decree limiting store hours may sound downright preposterous. But aside from whether any court has a right to regulate shopping days, there is a greater issue worth addressing. It's the question of being able to live happily and contentedly, whether or not one is carting home a new wardrobe, snatching up the latest electronic gadget, or downloading more songs from the Internet.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

GRATITUDE FOR HEALING