(A telephone rings)

“Hello, Welcome to GUILT TRIP INC. Our goal is to make you as uncomfortable as we can while you live in the lap of luxury.”

“You say you’re interested in going on a cruise? Have you checked with your mother? The poor ol’ thing might have a stroke while you’re gone.”

“Do you want the “DELUXE PACKAGE which means you get all the meals included and a window overlooking the ocean?”

“Sounds good to you. Well that’s what we will give you if you can look at yourself in the mirror knowing that all those kids in India are going hungry.”

“How many will be going?  Just you and your husband. I see. And what about your kids? Don’t you think that they could use a little trip?”

“Say, while I’m it, you do tithe to your church, don’t you? No? Oh I see, well good luck with that one.”

You sound like you have a pretty good income and you’ve done well in life….I see, pretty comfortable but not like Bill Gates rich. So, did you get your wealth by gouging your customers and over charges? I’ll bet you’ll will even take this trip off as a business trip, won’t you? There goes the tax debt.”

“What do you mean you are beginning to feel guilty? Heavens we haven’t even begun yet. We are very good at what we do. The GUILT TRIP hasn’t even started yet. Just wait until you meet the crew of sweat shop laborers we have working on the ship. Be sure to go into the ballast area where the temperatures will make you think of purgatory.”

“So to sum this up: You want the DELUXE PACKAGE without thinking about your dear mother or children. You want to spend without regarding the poor or those who serve you. You want to pay with ill gotten gains and even cheating the government. It that right?… Good.”

Now just one last thing, we offer for a small surcharge a stretch 12 cylinder limo that will pick you up at your home and drive you and you husband. Oh and by the way, it hasn’t been tuned in 12 years. That baby really belches out the diesel.”

“O.K. then. See you on the 13th. And on a final note, I hope you break a leg and thank you for choosing GUILT TRIP INC.”

Did I push the right buttons? Here’s one more.  Mark 8:34 “When He called the people to Himself with His disciples and said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

Gotta go. The limo just pulled up.

Reace and grace. Reed.