Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It ...

 

"Therefore, "Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord."   ---2 Corinthians 6:17

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So did I make it over to the shopping mall on my birthday? Yes. Yes, I did.

And gracious, though I'd not visited that place in 12+ years--still--my experience was exactly as I'd imagined. Exactly.

Yawn. Dullsville.  シ 

Ninety five percent of that huge place is devoted to clothing shops. 

Clothes,

Clothes, 

Everywhere, clothes.

And guess who's not bought clothes at a mall since the 90's?

For memory's sake of bygone days, I did step into a candle store and Marshalls and if coughing in public was allowed these days I'd have sputtered all over when I spied the $45 Yankee candle and the $6.59 dish towel.

And man! I longed to smile at people. But nooOO, unallowed these days, what with wearing masks. I did consider waving at strangers, but wondered at the wisdom of that. Would it cause angst like this?--

Little old lady: "Henry, quick! Look at that woman across the way. She waved to us."

Little old man:  He looks.

Little old lady: "Do we know her?

Little old man: "Don't think so."

Little old woman: "Are you sure? I don't want to appear stuck-up. Maybe we should wave back."

Little old man: "Too late. She's gone."

Little old woman: "I feel so bad. Maybe we did know her after all. Darn these masks. Now I'll wonder all the rest of the day just who she was."

ツ

Anyway, I did enjoy the ability to take a walk within a warm place.

Yet on the drive home the true fun began. While considering the boring mall, I asked myself: If you'd designed that mall, which stores would you place inside it? What would get you there once a week rather than every 12 years?

 

Oh! Best creative assignment I'd given myself in eons.

So here you go. What you'd find in Debra's Mall:

A used bookstore

An outlet-type bookstore

Three coffee shops/cafes

An antique furniture store

A huge "Five and Dime-type" store

A movie theater

Three restaurants

A little chapel

Two hair salons

A record album store (with listener booths)

An American Pickers-type shop

A supermarket

A media shop with cd's, dvd's and computer accessories

A gym

A food court with a guy playing the piano

A Christian bookstore

An amusement park

An all-things-modern-day-Victorian shop

Two department stores

An animal shelter

A craft supply store

A homemade candy store

A Dollar Tree (thanks for the reminder, Dolores!)

A candle shop

A roller skating rink

A music store (guitars, instruments, etc.)

A Salvation Army store (or Goodwill. Or both.)

A flower shop (for gift bouquets, etc.)

A gaming arcade

An office supply store

A garden shop

And ok, a couple clothing-only stores. シ

The bittersweet thing? Between them, three malls in our area used to  contain many of these stores. You know, back in the Days of Normal. And freedom.

Oh well! There's always the malls, stores and streets in Heaven to anticipate. Can you imagine how cute those shops will be and all their handmade wonders from folks using their talents?

Anyway, I had such a lovely time creating that list. In fact, last night around 1:00 a.m., I awoke to add to it--and smiled upon my pillow.

So here it is, your mission should you choose to accept it: 

Create your own mall of your dreams. 

Make your own list, one far more daring than mine, even. I tended to stick with ideas I'd already seen done, but you?  I'm sure you can imagine far more creative ideas.

I mean, why not? 

These days, especially, using our minds to think our own thoughts--ones apart from the masses-- is a valuable exercise in remembering who we are and who we are not.

Always be the best original, passionate, God-created version of yourself, okay? Never forget what you are called to do during your few years upon this planet.

Never lose your spirit of  hope or adventure!

 “Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace. Anyone who speaks should speak words from God. Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ."   ---1 Peter 4:10

Did you imagine shops/ideas not already on my mall list? I'd love to hear what they are!

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Thank-you for your birthday wishes here and at Facebook! I had the best day.

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

Psalm 34:7, 10 NIV

Please remember: My posts are ALWAYS about more than they appear to be. 

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 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15