Over the weekend, my sons were with me for a church event, and they were exceptionally well-behaved. That can be a rare occurrence, so to try a little positive reinforcement, I offered to swing by McDonald’s for a cup of hot chocolate on the way home. We pulled into the drive-thru, waited our turn, and then pulled up to the screen. I ordered the two hot-chocolates, and was very disappointed to find out that the cocoa machine was not working. No hot chocolate. Really, that’s all we wanted, so I thanked the speaker box that was taking our order. It was at that very moment that I realized that even though I was no longer ordering anything, I was doomed to stay in that line at least for however long it took the two cars in front of me to pull forward.
You see, at some point, there was probably a strategy meeting between the engineers that were in charge of laying out the parking lot and drive-thru space, and the marketing guys that are there to make sure the consumer is urged to spend lots and lots of money. At this meeting, someone probably pondered that when the line gets a bit long, they need keep the traffic flow moving so they don’t lose customers who are impatient. Another “concerned” attendee of the same meeting probably said, in let’s hope was at least a half-joking manner, “...what if they couldn’t pull out of the line--then they’d have to order something anyway, right? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!” (‘Cause it’s a joke, remember?) There was probably a moment or two of silence. Someone probably tapped their pen on the conference table and looked uncomfortably and yet slightly optimistically at the big dog running the meeting. Maybe there was uneasy shuffling of papers and re-crossing of legs and a few sniffs in the room before the boss finally says, “You know, you may be on to something…”
That takes us back to my predicament on Saturday. With a six-inch raised concrete border to the drive-thru loop, cars who change their mind are now stuck in line anyway. I’m sure the consumer psychology people say that customers will probably figure they’d just go ahead and order since they can’t get out of line, thus increasing the bottom line for McDonalds. I, however, do not bow to the logic and reasoning of a McDonald’s Psychologist. I simply thanked the person taking the order and told them we would just wait and pull through and leave when we were able to do so.
It’s hard to believe that McDonald’s, the home of “service with a smile” would stoop to something as diabolical and sinister as entrapment to get our money! They might as well have giant golden arches that we drive thru as decoration that only clamp down tight against our vehicle to keep us from leaving their place! I’m sure there are secretly hidden golden tire boots that come out of the ground and trap your car in the parking lot if you go to eat-in and change your mind. Just watch out, lest we begin to see golden mechanical hands that slip up out of the golden seats and pick our pockets dry as we eat…
Okay, so I’m being a bit of an alarmist and over-reacting just a bit. But, there is a point. McDonald’s is representative of the world we live in. There are many things available to us quickly, conveniently, and easily. Some of them, like the fruit cups, oatmeal for breakfast, or salads on the McD’s menu, are not bad for us. In fact, some could argue that there are healthy things available. A Health club is designed to be quick, convenient, and easy, and it’s not really bad for you. Colleges and Universities are making classes available online and through independent studies to keep it more convenient and accessible for those that must work but still choose to pursue further education. These are just a couple of examples.
However, there are many more options on the same menu that many people agree are simply terrible for your body and your heart. The world has many of these same kinds of things. They look tempting and wonderful, and while we enjoy partaking of them, and do not notice the damage they do right away, the more we indulge, the worse it gets, and the greater the risk of permanent damage. Those who are unaware of cholesterol issues could end up in the hospital or worse due to heart problems. Continual indulgence in sin can quietly build up internally in our spiritual system, blocking the free flow of God’s Word to our hearts, and can cause a different type of heart problem.
When we do finally start to notice a problem, many people feel trapped by the choices they made just like those barriers at the drive-thru, and instead of fighting to get free, they just give in and buy in some more. They figure they’ve already gone this far, what’s a few more steps in the same direction?
The good news is that when we discover that the convenience the world offers does not really have what we’re looking for, we do not have to order off the menu anyway. We do not have to be trapped in line. God is always willing to reach out and give us a way out of what appears to be a helpless situation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that not only are the temptations we face NOT stronger than we are, but that He is always there with an escape route to get us away from it. Whether it’s giant 4x4 tires to leap a curb at McDonald’s, or a friend to give you the moral support you need to walk away, God will always give us a way out. The hard part is choosing to get out before we give in. Be careful of the conveniences in which you indulge. Not all of them line up with God’s menu and what He has planned for us in His Word.
Not saying I see a conspiracy, but next time you hit the drive-thru at Taco Bell, just be ready, because like the other place I mentioned, once you’re in, you’re in. It may be you for whom the dinner bell tolls.
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