My Quest for Toilet Paper
In March 1983, while I was a senior in high school, a couple of my friends and I wanted concert tickets to one of our favorite bands. Of course, this was long before you could buy concert tickets on the internet. They sold tickets at specific locations, and you had to go there to buy them. One such location was the Garden State Plaza, a giant mall in New Jersey. We drove there with our sleeping bags, and provisions for the night. We parked and ran to the door with our stuff. We were first on line! We nearly froze to death, but as daylight dawned, we started to get excited because soon the doors would open, and the tickets would be ours! What we didn’t know was that there was another door on the other side of the mall, where other people were also waiting. Our door opened right on time, but the other door opened first. The huge crowd from the other door rushed to the front and beat us to the ticket window. We waited all night in the freezing cold, and didn't get tickets to the show.
I’m willing to wait on line for something I really want, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be willing to wait in line for toilet paper. Yesterday morning, I was at Kroger at 6 a.m. Zilch. I tried Home Dept and Lowes. Nada. I went to Tom Thumb, but it didn’t open until 7. Next was Walmart. I pulled into the parking lot at 6:45 and there was already a line for their 7 a.m. opening. I sat in the car and said to myself, “There’s NO WAY I’m standing in line to go to Walmart.” But as the line grew, do you know what I did? I got in line at Walmart.
Thankfully, there is only one door at Walmart! When it opened, some people took off running for the paper products in the back row. Others, like me, tried to play it cool. Two employees were guarding the paper products and directing traffic. The lucky first few were allowed to enter the aisle in one direction, take one package of toilet paper and one package of paper towels, and exit the other direction.
As I shopped for a few other things, I felt mixed emotions. I was so relieved that I had toilet paper! But I noticed other people looking longingly at my cart, and I felt a tinge of shame that I had what others wanted. I thought to myself, “Is this what the world has come to in the midst of the Corona Virus, that toilet paper seems to be as valuable as gold?” That thought reminded me of Psalm 19:10: They (the laws, precepts, commandments and judgment of the Lord) are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.”
We don't know how much longer the Corona Virus will continue to disrupt our world. It could be weeks, or even months. What can we cling to in this time of chaos? Like David, we can cling to the word of the Lord. Because we live on this side of the cross and have the New Testament, we can cling to the promise that Jesus made to His disciples in John 14:1-3: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
The Corona Virus has taught us that our lives are so fragile. We can lose them quickly to an unseen enemy. The economy is volatile. The stock market has tumbled since the onset of the virus. People are concerned about their jobs and their investments. The only solid rock we have is the Lord Jesus. Everything else is sinking sand. That’s why we don’t panic or allow ourselves to become overcome with fear during this pandemic. God is faithful. He is still on His throne and He is sovereign over the Corona Virus. He will end this pandemic when He has accomplished His purposes. Our lives will return to normal someday. But even if we should catch the Corona Virus, we have no need to fear. Our eternity as believers is secure. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. In heaven, we won’t cherish material things like concert tickets or toilet paper. We’ll only worship Jesus. In heaven, we will do it face to face, but we can worship Him today too by being faithful, and showing others the love of Christ in this crisis.
