Monday, June 25, 2007

A Holy Whoopin'

Tonight I was listening to Hillsong United which got me thinking about David Crowder and his fall concert at the House of Blues. And that got me thinking about who I want to go with. Perhaps I should go alone since I have every intention of channeling my inner college student and jumping around like a 19-year-old. And that got me thinking that I should just go ahead and put my hair in hot rollers and bust out my old Abercrombie and Fitch clothes. Which got me thinking about the time I got in big trouble for shopping at A&F. So I've got a little story for you, Ags! (Midnight Yell, anyone?)

Texas A&M was and is a very casual school. I spent a little time on the Baylor campus one spring and it was enough to know that not all schools are casual. I saw girls wearing panty hose and skirts to class. Thanks, but I will stick with my flip flops and jeans. I spent the bulk of my wardrobe allowance at Abercrombie. It was a good fit for where I was. Keep in mind that this was before everything they made was very, very tiny. Things started to get a little crazy at Abercrombie. I couldn't shop there without feeling convicted about their disgusting advertising campaigns and promotion of teenage promiscuity. A friend showed me their catalog one day and it had disrobed teens riding an elephant together. Are you kidding me? Promiscuity isn't even the right word. The Lord was clearly directing me to spend my money elsewhere and stop contributing to the madness. But I loved the clothes so much! Why, A&F? Why did you ruin a good thing?

I did really well for about a year. Then I found myself back at the A&F counter. I had found a replacement for their jeans and t-shirts, but not for their sweaters. And I needed sweaters! We were heading to the snowy mountains of Wyoming for Thanksgiving and Abercrombie had the best, warmest, most durable wool sweaters. And they weren't too ugly either. A thought crossed my mind like a lightning bolt. I wonder if God is going to let my luggage get lost? By His mercy, my luggage did not get lost. I got everything home and it was all good.

A few weeks later, my sister and I hitched a ride up to New York City with our mom for a speaking engagement. We ain't too proud to beg when it comes to NYC. She was speaking at Times Square Church and that place is just heaven to us. Truly, every tribe, nation, and tongue are represented there. We stayed in the church's guest house for the weekend. Please do not think for a minute that the Moore girls were not packing all their favorite clothes for NYC. We have to be at our best when we go to The City. Jeans and flip flops really won't do.

On the last day I was all packed and ready to go. Mom was trying to fit everything in her bag, but she had been given so many presents that it wouldn't all fit. She started to leave behind a really pretty tea cup, which broke my heart because she loves those. So I volunteered to stick it in my bag. That is when I removed a large amount of clothes - my favorite clothes - from my suitcase to make room. And, you guessed it, I forgot to squeeze them back in.

Upon arriving back in Texas, I realized my error. I immediately contacted the church and explained that I had left some clothes - some of my best clothes - in the guest quarters. The clothes would be shipped to me a.s.a.p.

When two weeks passed by I started to wonder. I called the church and asked about the package. I'm sure the angels around me and those around the sweet secretary I was speaking to began to chuckle. Perhaps a good silent laugh. I was informed that she had sent a missions intern over to the guest house to retrieve my clothes. The missions intern, God bless him or her, got a little confused.

The Lord did not give me a holy whoopin' by letting my A&F sweaters get lost in some airport. No, that would have been wasteful. Instead, He took the choicest items of my whole wardrobe - my NYC-worthy clothes - and shipped them right off to the mission field.

44 comments:

Shelly said...

I am cracking up!!!! Goodness gracious does our Lord have a sense of humor! I'm sorry you lost the best of your clothes, but He seems to demand the finest and best in our offerings doesn't He? :)
He's been demanding the first fruits from back in the day.

And jump up and down with Crowder - it's just a must to celebrate Jesus! I leave his concerts feeling like I just had an aerobic workout!

Deedra said...

Great story! That is one conviction I've never had to worry about. My rear won't ever and never has fit into their clothes! I guess that's a blessing in the end, huh? (pun intended!)

Big Mama said...

I, too, have dealt with the heartache that is A&F. Why the promiscuity? Why the tinyness?

I am thinking that there are some seriously fashion forward people in some mission field somewhere.

Anonymous said...

I remember the first time I went into A&F after I had had my second baby and said to my hubby, "It's too loud in here and the cologne smell is too strong...we need to leave," to which he replied, "HUH?! I can't hear you over the music!!" I was officially old. And I wasn't even 30 yet.

I had a similar incident with a laundry bag of clothes in college. I was packing up to go home for the weekend, drove all the way to my hometown, and realized that I had left my laundry bag sitting in Fish Lot. It contained EVERY pair of underwear I owned and my beloved, BELOVED Harry Connick, Jr. concert shirt. I don't know that there was a divine lesson in it, but I was laughed at just the same (you know, that being such an Aggie thing to do and all).

Holly said...

at is a very good way to support missions...indeed a hilarious gift!
Love ya!
Holly

PS I like the sweaters at Coldwater Creek (They may be a little older though, huh?)

Alicia said...

I loved your stories Amanda. I hate it when stuff like that happens. It has happened to me more than I would like!

justjuls said...

This is a great story.
It is that way of escape that He speaks about in His word.
Don't you know girl, the Lord had no intentions of leaving you nekkid!
(are you proud of me? I'm new to TX - and a bit language challenged - and I learned a new word!)

Profbaugh said...

Thanks for the late night laugh attack--just what I needed to keep the ole "juices" flowing. I'm in in the midst of working on my on-line class and the diversion of reading something other that student papers was just too tempting. So I headed over to your blog. All I can say is God definitely has a sense of humor!

Interestingly, three years ago one of our seniors did her thesis (a rhetorical/visual analysis) on the A&F catalogue. When she did her public presentation, she had to black out parts of the visuals. How sad is that!

And for the record you cannot listen to Hillsongs United or David Crowder without the experiencing the raw enthusiasm of a college student. As my daughter would say. "They rock!"

~Cheryl
St. Louis

His love is strong said...

This post is awesome. Amanda, I've been "lurking" on your blog since late March (discovered through other blogs) and have really enjoyed how your humor, perspective, personality and honesty come out in your writing so well. Btw, I can relate to this post on many levels. Thanks for letting us in on this personal testimony!! :D

~Amy7634

P.S. Last item I bought from A&F was a cami sometime last year. Being a petite person, I couldn't figure out why it was so tight, I had to get one size up than I normally do. The salesgirl (high school age) was trying to convince me (same age as you, I believe) that she had the same issue w/her A&F clothes and that it would "stretch." Well, reading your post today shed some light on that past situation! :)

Marc and Charity said...

That's a great story, thanks for sharing. A good lesson for all of us to not hold too tightly to "things!" Thanks!

AbbyLane said...

My family went to New York when I was younger, and our luggage got lost at the airport for 2 days. I always wear "junk" (aka: pj pants and a t-shirt/sweatshirt) when we fly just to be more comfortable on the plane. So after arriving in NYC and then gracing the city with the same outfit for 2 days, not only was my wardrobe gone...but the words "cute" and "NYC best" also quickly left my vocabulary.

Ps...the new Hillsong United? "Lead me to the Cross" and "Hosana" ...can't stop listening to those :)

Travis said...

Bring it on, Holy Spirit!

I love that story. I have the same A&F heartache. Thanks be to God that I have godly wife, or I would probably still be living with the same sin justification. I have one lone A&F shirt hanging in my closet, from about 9 years ago. As if. I even cut the little tag off of the front pocket that said Abercrombie on it. As if. It's not even cool. Someohow I guess I am just holding on to it to remind me of innocent college coolness of yesteryear. Where did our A&F go?

As if.

Kelly @ Love Well said...

No one does poetic justice like our God. And I pray your sweaters went to someplace cold and not someplace hot. Can you imagine trying to wear a wool sweater in Kenya?!?

Jackie said...

too funny!! i had a sociology prof. in college that took us on a "field trip" to the mall and proceded to stop in front of AF and yell about what their advertising was doing to the youth of today. i was very enlightened (and mortified) but he had a good point...to bad such good clothes has to be with such a bad store.

Lauren said...

That is such an awesome story! I love it! I loved shopping at A&F back in the day, too. Too bad it got all raunchy. I loved their jeans (before they got so low that your bottom started hanging out the top of them).

Also, Dave Crowder is just about the only music I ever listen to on my iPod. It makes me miss college and Texas.

Patty said...

I think that jumping up and down and praising Jesus is just great at any age. I say this because my best friend and I did this at a Toby Mac concert with our youth group. We were in the very front of the stage. :o) I am sure we look rather odd for two "old" women to be with the youth group but we didn't care, we would do anything for our youth .

Sorry about your clothes. It did go to missions, but I love my clothes and that would have hurt. God does have a sense of humor!!

jen said...

Oh my goodness how funny! Isn't that just like God? But just think of the joy on the peoples faces when they received such pretty clothes. :)

boomama said...

Girl...the Lord just took care of that one, didn't he? When David and I were first married, I used to go in the A&F in BR all the time. And drool. David had us on a budget so tight that the $4.99 rack at Gap was more my speed, but I LURVED to look at the A&F clothes.

But then they tried to get all edgy and they lost me. Forevah.

I'm sure they were crushed to lose such a dedicated window shopper.

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

Oh OUCH! I soo hope those sweaters went to Greenland and not Liberia...:)

At least the teacup made it..

(and together we're thinking, yeah WHATEVER..)

Janelle and Ella said...

Yes!! This story totally surpassed how I was imagining it was going to end. Were there tears? I probably would have sobbed. I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time, but you have certainly made me laugh this morning.

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

oh and p.s...don't know how you are with casting crowns, but they are going to be in huntsville in october...i've already got my lighter to hold in the air and am practicing my 80's concert sway...:)

debra parker said...

I love this story.

Some people were looking good on the mission field.

dreamingBIGdreams said...

Love this!

Anonymous said...

Hi Amanda!

This is my first post on your blog. I have been reading it for a couple of months now. You are truly a blessing!

Anyways..on to my A&F story. I bought a pair of jeans there and washed them...as normal people do with their clothes. They shrunk...a lot. I took them back and the sales girl said "Are you sure they shrunk?" I'm not sure that if she was trying to imply that I was fat or I was lying but either way it ticked me off. I grabbed a pair of jeans to prove to her that the jeans had indeed shrunk. So, that was the last time I shopped there...and the half naked advertising that I just can't agree with morally.

connorcolesmom said...

Yes I agreee with you about A&F.
I also felt the conviction after I had my first child. I went in the store and the music was so loud it frightened my baby. It also did not help that I felt like I was being stared down by the gigantic pictures of half naked male models.
Oh my I had to leave and have not been back since.
Sorry about the clothes - can you imagine what the people on the other end thought when they got your clothes - I can just imagine their faces - LOL
God bless,
Kim

Anonymous said...

so the next a&f ad should have shown the kids riding elepants CLOTHED!!!!"God is trying and using who is available" Really enjoyed this post!!!!

Michelle said...

Great story! Funny I grew up spending a lot of time in NYC and flip flops and jeans do just as well there- again another reason every tribe and nation and fashion is present in that city! How blessed someone was with an A&F sweater- and they probably don't even know it!

Sharon Brumfield said...

What a hoot!
God does have a sense of humor.

Deidre said...

Great story! I try to 'convict' the girls in my SS class all the time (high school)about A&F. For some reason it isn't the same as Holy Spirit conviction .... Hmmmmm???? :)

I enjoyed reading this, Amanda!

Steph V said...

LOL!! Loved the posts!

This gave me more reason to boycott A&F. I stoppped shopping there shortly after I had JD, mostly because the $$$ pair of jeans I bought only lasted a month before ripping. Oh, and not to mention, that dark place isn't the least bit mommy-friendly! How am I suppose to fit through those isle, strollerfied with hands pulling expensive cami's off of shelves??

I gave up on A&F...

Anonymous said...

OMG! That is the best story Amanda. I felt conflicted about A&F too--vanity won and I bought little(and I do mean little) cropped jeans...Got a holy whoopin' when they split right up the back. Learned my lesson.

Anonymous said...

Amanda, this is off-topic BUT i wanted to share....when your mother first mentioned AJ i'm thinking -who is AJ?- i don't recognize that name-hmmm..Amanda would be A Gay..not AJ...then it hit me...oh yeah last name last name..anyway i thought you'd get a kick out of that miss A Gay!!

anita from kansas said...

Dare I say, I think I heard a Heavenly Chuckle!!!

Angela Baylis said...

That store just plain gives me a headache! The music is SO loud and I don't appreciate the ads either!

But... I would LOVE to join you to jump up and down like a 19-year-old to David Crowder! (That is, if you don't mind me wearing my 80's clothes...hehe!) There is nothing like a good pair of jeans! Bummer... It's probably too long a drive from Michigan!

p.s. You were very sweet to help your mother get her tea cup! ...sorry about losing your clothes in the name of Jesus!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

That is a great story. It will be a great one for your teenagers someday!

FitzandMolly said...

oh please, in the Name of Jesus, please let this never happen to me.

olivia and henry said...

amanda, you are hilarious!!

MamaCass said...

OH this is so not funny but I can't help but chuckle. I am sure whoever received the clothes felt very blessed.

Anonymous said...

Too funny!

My thighs were always too big for A&F. I guess that's a good thing.

Wait, did I just say that it's a good thing that I've always had large thighs??

I need to rethink this comment!

Tammie Head said...

I cracked up over this post! Isn't God funny sometimes?!

Love you much!
tammie ♥

Kelli said...

Humbling and hilarious ... :)

Anonymous said...

I totally agree. I, too, loved A&F...oh how I loved the jeans. I even wore their signature scent. Sigh. I don't so much as even walk in there now. I've been feeling convicted over radio stations lately. I usually listen to Christian radio most all of the time, but I do flip over to other stations. You know, I've gotta stay current on all the latest hits! Lately it seems when I flip, there are some nasty, depressing lyrics to some of these new songs. I have a toddler who just turned 3 last week & his little sweet mind is like a sponge. I don't want him picking up any of it.

So funny to watch how God uses situations to teach us things!

Love this post!

Sarah, TN

Unknown said...

Oh so funny! God does have a sense of humor! I loved this story. What a blessing for some sweet missionary!

calista said...

If ANYONE ever asks me about God' providence OR if he has a sense of humor, I'm sendin' em straight, do you hear me, straight to this blog!!