I needed a new travel bag for the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress because my 10-year-old suitcase was worn and beat up. So I thought I'd save a few bucks and go to the neighborhood membership warehouse store. Big mistake!

Everybody knows the name of the store I'm talking about, and I'm going to politely call it "Boxco," where super-sizing is an understatement. I flashed my membership card to the smiling greeter, who made me feel like I was going into a church on Sunday morning. I was only shopping for one specific item, but it might be in a cumbersome box. So I grabbed a shopping cart, which was my second big mistake.

I whizzed past the large HDTVs that are discounted but still unaffordable for me. And a single person has no use for 100 rolls of toilet paper or a case of gallon-sized cans of tomato sauce. Nope! I came to "Boxco" for one and only one thing: a new suitcase. (Yeah, this story is practically writing itself. You can stop laughing now.)

I found it quickly enough — a real beauty of a suitcase for under $25, so roomy and practical, with wheels, to boot. Making a beehive to the checkout counters, I couldn't help but to stuff my face at the numerous food sample stations. Hey, they're free! Oh, look, there's a case of my favorite vegetarian soup for only $6.99. Gotta have it! Athletic tube socks, cheaper by the two-dozen! Well, all my socks do have holes in them. Hey, hey, there's the Monkees' CD box set of all their hits! Whoa! 24 reams of printer paper for under $20. And yeah, yeah, yeah, there's the DVD of the new Beatles musical, Across the Universe. I was doomed.

Long story short: My shopping cart filled up quickly and my total came to over $150.00. I once again fell victim to "Boxco's" consumerist spell.

Okay, what's the spiritual message? How about this? God provides, so why are we modern folk so obsessed with consumer goods? Does the American dream of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness really require a huge personal credit card debt? Is it possible to just live simply? Can we share our abundance with those who don't have much?

Listen to Ven al Banquete, a marvelous English-Spanish bilingual song by Bob Hurd. The lyrics call me to question my values in light of God's providence.

Like the child whose fishes and loaves
fed the multitude,
in the Lord the little we have,
broken and shared,
becomes abundant food.

Now please, for mercy's sake, take away my "Boxco" card!