Article April 5, 2010 Issue

GOODBYE BARGAINS, HELLO BALANCE

The protection of God's love removes the influence of compulsive thinking and behavior.

BY MILIKA NEVÁREZ

It all started out pretty harmlessly. I had a newly furnished cottage, and I wanted to supplement its decorations with things bought at rock-bottom prices at thrift stores. But then, after the cottage was completely furnished, I couldn't stop shopping.

I remember having a nagging feeling that what I was doing wasn't right, but I suppressed those inklings. I was influenced by certain "enabling arguments" about frugality, recycling on behalf of the environment, and finding collectibles and treasures, all of which justified my habitual spending. These rationalizing thoughts were like bad company I was keeping. And my innocent desire to find bargains became a full-blown addiction to shopping in thrift stores.

But then one day I was at a thrift store where there was a long line. I was feeling frustrated and unhappy because of the wait, and because by that point shopping at thrift stores was a compulsive behavior. As I exited the store and got in my car, I was suddenly moved to tears by the feeling that this behavior was all wrong. In that moment I felt that God was trying to tell me something important.

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