Can Somebody Please Stop Lying To Me?

Posted on 01.21.08 in Faith Parenthood and there are 14 comments.

Yesterday, I went to the grocery store alone.

Similar to a Hawaiian vacation, going to the grocery store alone is a rare and glorious treat for me.

(Yes, I realize the cool train passed me by.)

Normally, I shop with three small children.

And “shop” isn’t exactly the word I would use for my excursions.

I believe “endure, cope and survive” are more appropriate terms.

Shopping indicates that one leisurely compares prices and products.

I engage in blindly grabbing anything with packaging that remotely resembles items in my pantry, defending the basket from any food portraying cartoon characters and attempting to get back to my car minivan without inspiring anyone to call CPS on my behalf.

So, to actually “shop” at the grocery store...bliss.

Or so I thought.

What I didn’t realize is that there is something far more annoying than three small crying children.

Marketers.

Wow. Have you tried to make healthy food decisions at the grocery store lately?

How much deception can you fit under one roof?

I’m sorry, but “Organic Oreos” - aren’t good for you! Neither are “All Natural” Doritos. And what’s the difference between Whole Grain and Whole Wheat? And is Smart Balance better than natural butter or is natural butter better than margarine? Brown eggs or white eggs? Cage free or free range?

The seafood guy asked if I wanted the “All Natural Salmon” or the regular salmon....umm.... so is the regular salmon un-natural?

Seriously, I got a headache.

By the time I got to the toothbrush section at the end of my trip I was a mess.

I stared at the toothbrushes for 5 minutes. Literally - 5 Minutes.

Six people picked their toothbrushes out while I considered whether I needed a compact head and soft bristles or a full head and medium bristles. Do I need the flex brush? The gum and cheek cleaner?

Finally, I just slapped myself and said, “KAT! YOU CAN DO THIS! PEOPLE PICK TOOTHBRUSHES ALL THE TIME!”

“F-O-C-U-S!!!”

I picked my toothbrushes and finished my shopping, determined to bring my 3 kids anytime I go to the grocery store again.

My Point

We are deceived and lied to on a constant basis. We’re marketed to by folks who only show us the good side and hide the bad.

The church should be different. We should be real.

I should be real.

Every time I present my best and hide my worst - I isolate someone. I’m one more affirmation that they’re just not together. They’re just not good enough. They just can’t figure it out.

Hurting people don’t need to know we’re perfect, they need to know we understand.

So, I guess this is just a challenge to us all to be a little less cool and a little more real.

The Comments:

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great word. i think people are learning more to be like this. it’s not pretty by any means...but i think it’s the healthiest option.

I pledge to be less cool…
And I am looking up the the difference between whole Grain and wheat- that kills me when trying pick pasta!

Great post - we really do need to be different as the church (which is hard because we get sucked into thinking like the world). 

Of course, my kids would tell me that it is not possible for me to be “less cool”, but I know I can try to be “more real”.

Wow, this is a good post.  I love how you used humor to really bring home a great point. 

I’m going to think on this one and come back and read it again later....thanks for the inspiration!

I would still leave the kids at home any time I could. 

Great post though.  Got me thinking for my day.  Now, I must go brush my teeth.  :o)

Blessings,
Amy

My church has zero trans fat.

Kudos, and thanks for a great post.  Don’t feel too bad...I have a hard time in the toothbrush aisle, with or without distractions....

Realness rules.

Great post- when my wife and I are out and having an argument in public, this comes up almost every time.  A person we know will see us and my wife believes we should not let people see us arguing.  I believe we should be real.  She has a good point, that we’re supposed to be ‘different’ the everyone else, and held to a higher standard.  But if that different isn’t genuine, then why portray it at all right?

I think when we ask people how they are doing and they are doing lousy, most people still answer ‘good, and you?’.  Either they believe you don’t really care how they are, or they don’t want to get into how bad things are.  Either way, we have to find a new way to show we do care about how people are in a way that allows them to be real.

...this is why i always put my worst foot forward.
(unfortunately i think it just happens naturally)

this is a great post.
and don’t worry...i can get just as overwhelmed and indecisive when i shop by myself. its so weird? its like our minds have too much free time or something.

Unfortunately, I’ve been able to maintain my indecisive ways at the grocery store with an 8 month old with me.  He’s pretty entertained by the place so far, but I know the days are numbered...I long for a day when I can order my groceries online and then pull up to the store and have them loaded into the car without me getting out!

our church discovered transfat
writes books about it even

I’ll take the toothbrush buying as a sign everyone is well again at your house Kat? hurray?

Well said Kat.

i hate shopping for the same reason. it takes me 20 minutes to pick bread, toothpaste, etc. sigh.

i wish we could have a little more truth in the church. after all we are preaching about The Way the Truth and The Life...right?

Jeff: Kudos have trans fat in them, as well as processed flour (my Pooh girl tells me this is very bad, and I have the gut to prove it she says)

Coolmum: My wife and I did an experiment.  We both had the same list, she in one store and I in another.  Would you be surprised to know that I, a shopping-hater, completed my list in appx 9 minutes.  The lovely Katherine on the other hand, was still at it almost an hour later.  In giving her credit, she spent $3.85 less than me.  And she wonders why we never go to the store together.

Kat:  Good call on the new toothbrush after being sick. 

This is a sign.  I have to start listening to my pastor now.  He recently preached this same message, and I didn’t like it any better this time.  I much prefer to BS my way through life and not reveal any pain and/or shortcomings.  Are you guys on a different blog where you talk about me behind my back or something?

One of the hard things about being transparent for me is that I have to be that way without any expectations.  In real life, I know that I might make the other person uncomfortable.  They might think differently about me.  So I have to trust in my identity in Christ. 
I guess what I’m saying is, sometimes it’s been good, and sometimes it has felt far from successful.  Maybe if we all work on it, we’ll get more comfortable with it.
Do I make sense?

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