Mattresses, Mammon, and Living in the World

Yesterday I went searching for mattresses after eating at my favorite restaurant, Johnny Carino's. I didn't know exactly what to tell the saleswoman because the truth is I don't have all that much money to throw around right now.

How do you tell someone that you are in need of mattresses so that you can have people come and visit when you don't have enough money to buy good mattresses for them? It sounds cheap. It sounds like your pretending to put on a front. It sounds like you don't deserve to have your friends. It sounds like you are a poor financial manager.

I don't like being put in a box but if people know this kind of thing then they usually put you into a box. Providentially this time I don't have to admit that I'm poor and trying to live like I'm wealthier than I am.

I randomly saw a sign at the Dollar store in town a few nights ago when I went with one of my students to pick up some soda. The sign said "Mattresses for Working People" and they quoted $99 for a twin mattress set. I saw the name: Fairmount Mattress.

On my way home from Muncie I went to Fairmount. I looked downtown for this store. I was about ready to give into buying a mattress from the other store and going into debt to do it. On my way out of Fairmount I saw the sign Fairmount Mattress. I looked around for a place to turn around, turned around, headed into the store, and found that they truly had mattresses for $150 less than the other store.

I put off buying immediately. I wanted to talk it through with my friend Kathy who is very good about listening and letting me figure out what is right by every once in a while interjecting a word or two from her 45+ years of experience. Providentially, she had come with me on this outing.

By the time I pulled into the driveway I knew that I would be returning to the store to purchass three mattresses. I am still taking a leap of faith because my computer generated financial program says I don't have the money come July, but I trust that God will work things out and that my computer program is not tracking some important deposit that will come my way.

I will not allow money to dictate what I want to do so I can have visitors and be hospitable. In about half an hour I will be the proud owner of 3 new mattresses (and maybe even some bed frames).