Scaretactic, Thrift Stores and Prayers for Short Necks...

Before you read.....you must watch this funny scare tactic episode.... for nothing more, than to see what I felt was going to jump from an aisle in a store I recently visited.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fMbyh9OCoT8#


On Saturday my mother and I took a trip to Leeds Alabama. With no agenda, we happened upon a few stores in town,one of them being a Christian based thrift store. If you read my blog, you know that I love a hunt for a treasure. And I have been in my share of thrift stores, but this one was different. It gave thrift stores (even) a bad name. I walked in and immediately saw there was no organization. Stuff was piled to the ceiling, literally. Many aisles were blocked at the end. I twist and turned to get through the store. My mother, walking single file, was behind me. "Mom, lets get outta here...."
Somewhere in the madness and mess she had picked up a denim jacket. "I wonder how much this is?" Mom, I don't know.....lets just get outta here. This place gives me the creeps. I am afraid rat boy is going to run out on me at any minute. Seriously, I feel like I am in a horror movie, where some kids cannot get out of a thrift store and at any minute the crazy guy is going to jump out and kill them, hack them up....

(just then from behind a corner aisle)

"Hello Ladies." We looked in the direction of the voice, " Have you been saved?"Ok, for sure we are dead. I thought to myself. I just looked at the guy, who made me feel very uncomfortable. "Uh, yes?" my mom answered."OK. Good. Can I help you with something?" the man asked.I looked for a way out. At any minute we were meat."Yes, How much is this coat?"my mom asked. "Why, why, why,Mom?" I thought to myself, Be quiet. Let's just leave!!! The aisles seemed to be closing in. The smell of used junk that had been sitting untouched in this very building for centuries permeated the air. "How about 10 dollars?" the man asked. "No!" I said aloud. He looked at me, "Five?""No." I said again....."I don't know...." my mom wavered, seriously considering. Again, I wanted out. I really feel like God gives each of us with a gift of fear. And it is a gift, to alert each of us of bad situations, or...bad thrift stores.Whatever be the case."I don't know. I can't decided if I like it. It stands up on my neck. I have a short neck.."my mother explained.Then what I saw was one of the strangest things that could happen.The man took my mother's hands in both of his, pulling her to face him."Can I pray for you?" He asked. Without allowing her to answer, he turned towards me, "Can I pray for your mom?" I looked confused. "For what?" I asked. Although, I was certain it was at this moment the sling blade was to be pulled out. Or that his son, rat boy was going to pounce from atop one of the shelves. Of course, I would have never spotted him for the clutter."Let me pray for you." He insisted and closed his eyes. "Dead God, Heal this woman's short neck, allow her to be accepting of her short neck. Lord, God, Allow this woman to be free of her issues with her short neck. May she be accepting of how you made her...."

Let me stop here and say, please I need no emails of how I am not at Christian. I am a Christian. I have been saved. I pray every day, many times a day. I have also held the hands of someone and prayed for them. I have been prayed upon and feel it saved my life. But this whole practice was a bit disturbing to me. If my mom has a short neck and it really is disturbing to her, She can pray for it. This whole situation was just WEIRD to me. I couldn't do anything but stare at this guy who was on the verge of speaking in tongues for "my moms short neck". And he was dead (I use the term loosely) serious. Yes. Serious. Somewhere, as I was looking up at the ceiling, waiting for the scare tactic guys to jump down, he finished with his prayer.

"I'll think about it" my mom said (referring to the price quote), shocked too, at what had just unfolded.

"OK, I 'll be over here...." and the man walked down the aisle. I took my mom's hand and we bolted down another aisle, fearful of each turn. Finally we found the door and hurried out without looking back. We left a black mark stretching out of the parking lot. Without the denim jacket...because my mom has a short neck....