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The Great Fritos® Shortage

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods!  Hebrews 13:8-9

I hope you don’t get upset because I write about the mundane in Interruptions. I realize the multitudes expect lofty theology and to be inspired by miraculous testimonies.

This week I visited Kroger and last week and the week before – no Fritos® ! No original Fritos® , no Fritos®  scoops and not even barbecue Fritos® . Not one bag of Fritos® .

Probably proof of my mental imbalance, but I wasn’t bothered by the toilet paper shortage.

I admit I was somewhat frustrated about the bicycle tire shortage this past summer. However, I’ve been blessed by the shortage of people flying on airplanes as good seats are readily available. I’m now somewhat irritated by the lack of paper since I’m an author.

But a Fritos®  shortage is another level of frustration.

My comfort during the COVID crisis has been sitting in my chair at night to watch something on the TV while munching a few Fritos® . Recently I’ve had to eat grapes. Not the same thing, as grapes are healthy with no satisfying crunching sound.

Why do I get fixated on something seemingly minor?

Yesterday, I was talking to a pastor from a city in Siberia. He told me the mayor of his city had issued a decree that citizens of the city had to show proof of either vaccination or evidence of surviving COVID to receive a QR code.

The QR code had to be in hand to enter grocery stores.

Wow. I’m still able to enter Kroger and buy grapes. But in my frustration, I still can’t count my blessings.

I haven’t done any research on why there is a Fritos®  shortage.

Why bother when I can just let my imagination concoct a few conspiracy theories? The one playing in my mind right now involves Michigan and the Pittsburgh Steelers conspiring to create a statewide shortage only in Ohio – to create added frustration so they can beat Ohio football teams.

Another theory involves your lack of prayer and compromised lifestyle that’s causing God to withdraw His favor. Don’t let me hear about you not praying or compromising your faith. It’s your fault!

A person has only so much tolerance for change. All of us reach a tipping point, then blow up over the seemingly irrelevant.

That’s what happens when you get mad over to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, to travel or not to travel, to mask or not to mask, children in school one day and out the next, working at home, and this or that shortage.

Stuff accumulates – then one little thing – that’s it!

John Kotter just released a book entitled Change which includes information on how to change during the COVID crisis. He says:

The need to adapt is nothing new; after all, Benjamin Franklin said, “When you are finished changing, you are finished.” What is new is how often we need to change, the pace at which we need to move, and the complexity and volatility of the context in which we are operating. 

I find Kotter’s book helpful, but I wonder if he has tried to buy Fritos®  recently.

I must mention that Jesus never changes. He encompasses all time and eternity with no need to change. He is all in all. The best advice through our frustration is to find peace in Jesus.

Theological question: Will there be Fritos®  in heaven?

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