I pull into the all too familiar parking lot, and this time it’s not nearly as packed as it has been the last two times I’ve been here. “Okay, maybe things have calmed down” I think to myself, as I grab my reusable grocery bags and quarter for a shopping cart and climb out of my car. I probably visit
Aldi at least three times a week, but lately I’ve come here with a sense of urgency, and today is no different.
The COVID-19 pandemic has kept me in a world of anxiety for days now, and somewhat to my advantage. My first visit after the panic started I was able to stock up on some supplies we were running low on, and the second trip was a little more stressful with the store out of a few things but mostly still stocked. This time I came with a list for at least enough food for a week and getting everything on the list will hopefully bring me a sense of peace for a while.
My work is allowing me to work from home, and my kids school just cancelled classes for about a month, so the idea of stocking up more on food will make things feel right. The only thorn in my mind is my wife, a daycare worker, still has to leave the house to go to work. Well, at least she does for now.
But like I said, the parking lot seems more normal tonight with no one filling their trunks with toilet paper and bottled water and there are still plenty of open spaces available. Things are looking alright to me. That is until I put my quarter into the cart and spin it around to start towards the entrance of the store. A gentleman had just returned his cart and is walking past me when he just says “There’s not much left”.
He was right, the place is almost out of anything you could prepare a healthy meal out of. There’s a few things left that I need, but not a lot and the store is closing earlier than normal, says the piece of paper taped on the door into the store. I’ve got less than an hour to scour the shelves, and this just adds to my anxiety so I hurry through the aisles and grab what I can. I just want to check out and hurry to another grocery store in the area. My anxiety is running wild at this point.
I bought enough food previously so we have some “emergency food” but I don’t want to tap into that yet. It’s not even been a week since we started self quarantining, that just feels like a huge failure. Let’s get done with this place and move on to the more expensive store where I hope to find the rest of my list items.
Well, the next place wasn’t much better, but I was able to fulfill most of the purchases on my list but I fill pay a good deal more. I’m so frazzled by my shopping experience that all I want to do is cook the pizzas I bought for tonight and drink a good beer. So that’s what I did, and that’s why I’m here.
I feel like this blog will be a good place to try and examine my place in this crazy time, so I hope my thoughts and ideas about the social distancing might bring you some insight or comfort in these times. We’re not alone in this lonely adventure. Remember what Joshua 1:9 says; "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” We are never really facing these things alone.
