On-Line Shopping

Do you ever shop online? Well, I do!! I think it is one of the best things out there.

Shopping online allows me to shop from the comfort of my home during inclement weather, shop when it is convenient for me not when the stores are open, and especially for this senior with arthritic knees, doesn’t involve any walking. There is no more trudging from store to store trying to find exactly what I want - if it even exists! All that is done with a click of the mouse. Then there is the fact that the parcels are delivered to my door making transporting and carrying them a thing of the past. So I ask, why wouldn’t I take advantage of it?

Does this mean I never go into a store anymore? NO! A couple of times a year, I visit the clothing stores to try on the new styles being showcased to see what I like. We have been involved in renovations for the past little while and I visited the Home Improvement store to pick out the colour of countertop I wanted. [After all who can trust the colour on the computer screen!] But I happily ordered sliding closet doors and railing supports online.

To those who say they have never ordered online and never would, I would like to remind them of the days of ordering from Eaton’s catalogue and ask them just what the difference is between that [what we did in the ‘good old days’] and ordering online? in the ‘good old days’ a cheque or money order was enclosed with the order when it was mailed - or it came COD to the post office. Today, I hear people say they don’t want to put their credit card number online and so to them I would suggest that they can get a card with a low maximum and use it just for online orders.

For me, and I’m sure countless others, shopping has changed dramatically. More and more stores have an online presence and those that don’t are surely falling behind.

While my husband and I enjoyed the Christmas Day service we attended at a local Anglican parish, with a sung service, and traditional carols to the ‘proper’ English tunes, it was, in part, a nostalgic return to Christmases past.

We might be found in church, on average, once a month throughout the year, and then only if there is a specific reason for being there. We find our spiritual needs are met elsewhere as we meet in small groups or over lunch or coffee where we discuss theological issues and how they impact on our daily lives. Books, that can be downloaded directly on our Kobo and computers, and resources such as online study groups are readily available for personal growth and study. At the same time I would hate to see the church, [like the retail stores] disappear completely.

If the retail world has adapted to the changing demands of society, from the corner grocery store, to 24 hour superstore as and now online ordering within the last 100 years, why would anyone be surprised at the lower attendance by these same people that is being felt by most mainline churches whose way of interacting with their congregations has not changed over that same time!

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