RodneyOlsen.net Rotating Header Image

Shopping

Consumerism and Spirituality

Jun 9th, 2010
by Rodney Olsen.
1 comment

Am I the only one who feels a little uncomfortable when people joke about retail therapy?

Did anyone else feel uneasy about the masses lining up for days to get their hands on an iPad as soon as they went on sale?

Is our happiness really dependant on the power to buy items that will soon be outdated or superseded?

I don’t have a problem with the iPad and would probably enjoy using one if I could afford it, but I was quite concerned by the hype that drove people to stores around the world to participate in a buying frenzy. The latest I heard is that they’re still selling at one every three seconds. They may be quite wonderful but they’re not the answer to the world’s woes.

Whether it’s shoes, clothes, electronic gadgetry, food or whatever else, we seem to repeat the process of purchasing as much as we can, growing dissatisfied with it, then going out and doing it all over again in the hope that the next purchase will bring the contentment we’re seeking.

To a great degree it doesn’t even matter what we’re buying. Consumerism is all about the purchasing. We gather together to worship at shopping centres that have become our cathedrals.

We need to purchase a variety of items just to live our lives but we can so easily cross the line and let that purchasing process become an end in itself.

My regular Wednesday morning guest on 98.5 Sonshine FM is Rev Dr Ross Clifford who is the Principal of Morling College in New South Wales and Vice President elect of the Baptist World Alliance. Each week we chat about a range of issues relating to spirituality and belief.

Today we talked about consumerism and the way it is affecting so many lives. We live in a world where millions are dying because they don’t have enough, yet just as many are dying due to excess.

If you want to hear what Ross had to say about the spirituality of consumerism just click the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

It’s hard not to get caught up in consumerism when we’re surrounded by it constantly but I’m working towards the kind of attitude that Paul talked about in the Christian Scriptures.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. – Philippians 4:12

What we own or what we can buy shouldn’t define who we are. Satisfaction, deep satisfaction, doesn’t come from consuming more and more. Purchasing will never add more meaning to our lives.

Are you ready to fight back against the lie of consumerism?

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Enjoy this post? Please share it:

Don’t Panic

Jun 7th, 2010
by Rodney Olsen.
4 comments

We had an interesting experience on Saturday.

Pauline, James and I were at a local shopping centre having a quick bite to eat when a very loud alarm started sounding. It was like a quick, loud blast on a horn every second. We started looking around to see what was going on when there was a sudden and very loud clattering sound. It sounded as if the building was collapsing. It was terrifying. We then realised that a massive exhaust fan almost directly above us had just kicked in. I think they need to get it checked if it makes that noise every time it starts.

Danger Will Robinson

Next thing, the horn blasting stops and immediately a siren starts. The warning system had gone to a new level.

The weird thing was, no one seemed to care. People were still going about their business. I kept an eye on the shopkeepers thinking that they would be able to give some direction but the guy at the donut shop was still making milkshakes and no one else really seemed concerned.

After a couple of minutes a few shops started to close their doors and then the move was on. Everyone in the centre started moving very casually towards the exits. We all stood around outside as murmurs went through the crowd that it was a fire alarm. Still, no one seemed all that concerned.

Emergency Over

Ten minutes or so later the siren stopped and people were allowed back into the shopping centre. Maybe it’d been a false alarm or maybe they’d been able to contain and extinguish a small fire. Either way, the emergency was over.

What Just Happened?

I must admit that I’ve been left wondering what the whole episode says about us. There was an alarm sounding so loudly that it couldn’t be ignored. Massive exhaust fans were adding to the effect as they whirred above us. It was more than obvious that something was not right yet most people chose to ignore the warnings and continue doing what they were doing before the warning.

As far as we knew it was a false alarm but what would have happened if we really were in danger? Were we gambling our lives on the possibility of it being a false alarm?

I’m glad that people didn’t panic and go screaming from the area but what kind of warning does it take for us to take notice? Did we have to wait to see flames racing towards us before we took notice of the warnings?

Recognising Warning Signs

I wonder what other warnings we ignore? Health? Relationship? Spiritual?

Are there clear warnings that we’re ignoring until we see the flames? Until it’s too late?

Enjoy this post? Please share it:

Spend Spend Spend

Jun 3rd, 2010
by Rodney Olsen.
3 comments

Times are hard. Money is tight. So now’s the time to spend more cash.

It seems that the rising cost of living and increases in interest rates have forced retailers to dramatically reduce prices and plan for long term discounting to lure us back to the cash registers.

DESPERATE retailers are slashing prices to the bone at mid-year sales starting today in an effort to lure spending-shy shoppers into their stores.

Despite news that retail sales rose in April for the second month running, the deep discounts are set to continue all the way to Christmas. –
News.com.au

I feel for the retailers, I really do, and I’d love to help them out, but rather than being enticed by shiny things I don’t really need at lower than normal prices, I think I might just try to concentrate on putting food on the table for my family.

I think I’ll just have to ask them to get back to me when they’re offering everything free.

Enjoy this post? Please share it:

Kmart Apology

Mar 4th, 2010
by Rodney Olsen.
1 comment

On Monday I wrote a post titled Kmart Sucks. It was about the application Kmart had made to trade early on ANZAC Day.

In my original post I said, “I think that Kmart has seriously misjudged the mood of the Australian population on this one and I truly hope that not only will their application fail but that Kmart will issue an apology for their insensitivity.”

Thankfully Kmart’s Managing Director, Guy Russo, has listened to the public and withdrawn its application for longer trading. He has also apologised for getting it wrong.

Having listened to the strength of feeling from our customers and the broader community I will withdraw Kmart’s application for early trading on Anzac Day.

To best serve our customers my intent is for Kmart to be open when it most suits them.

This was the reason for our application for additional trading hours.

I got this one wrong and on behalf of Kmart, I apologise to the RSL, retired and current members of the Australian Defence Force and the wider community for any offence that this application has caused. – Kmart Managing Director Guy Russo


I don’t understand how they got it so wrong in the first place but it’s wonderful to see them putting their hand up and admitting the mistake. Well done.

Enjoy this post? Please share it:

Kmart Sucks

Mar 1st, 2010
by Rodney Olsen.
11 comments

In the brilliant 1988 movie Rain Man, the character of Raymond Babbit says, “Kmart sucks”. Raymond might have a bit more support for his statement now that Kmart in Australia has applied to open their doors early on ANZAC Day.

For those outside Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand observed on the 25th of April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Over the years it has broadened its purpose, becoming a day that commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries.

News.com.au is now reporting that Kmart has applied to the New South Wales government for permission to trade before the traditional opening time on ANZAC Day of 1:00 p.m. (Thankfully shops in Perth don’t open at all on ANZAC Day.)

Their submission contends that staying closed for a morning to remember those who fought and died for our countries may inconvenience their shoppers.

Kmart submits that there is a desire within the community to see our stores open before 1pm on ANZAC Day.

Customers who are used to being able to shop at any time would potentially be severely inconvenienced by our closure. In short, they would not be able to obtain necessity items when they want.

Seriously? Your customers would potentially be severely inconvenienced by your closure for one morning? Do you think that the men and women who travelled overseas to protect our country, many of whom never returned, weren’t just a little more inconvenienced than not being able to shop for a few hours one morning a year? They were prepared to risk their lives and you’re not even prepared to give up a few hours profit? Do you think that your customers are really so stupid that they can’t plan a day ahead to buy ‘necessity items’?

War is never a good thing but surely those who gave their lives for our freedom didn’t do it only to give us freedom of shopping hours.

The application claims that shopping is “an important leisure activity” and that it “provides for the opportunity for families to come together . . . and gives them reason to spend special time with one another.”

Has shopping become that much of a god to us? Are our lives so empty that we consider a visit to the shopping centre as ‘family time’?

I think that Kmart has seriously misjudged the mood of the Australian population on this one and I truly hope that not only will their application fail but that Kmart will issue an apology for their insensitivity.

Enjoy this post? Please share it:
← Earlier Posts