Christmas time is coming
and Americans are in a buying frenzy. Newscasts show us videos of people
camping out in tents in order to be among the first customers when stores open
the day after Thanksgiving, commonly known as “Black Friday.” There are scenes of
people pushing and shoving and fighting over the last television set available
at a bargain price. Police and security guards are called to intervene and keep
people from hurting each other, all caused by a lust for more things.
I don’t participate in Black
Friday or any other shopping events, but our daily mail brings sheaves of
advertisements for electrical appliances, electronic gadgets, and a host of
other manufactured objects. As I look through these come-ons I can’t imagine
why anyone would want or need them. Will they enrich people’s lives? Will they
make their new owners any happier?
This is a good time to
examine our real needs and the real needs of those we love and care for. Could
we find better gifts than expensive things? Could we give the gift of time
spent together engaging in an activity not involving things? Could we visit an
art museum, go together to a concert, walk together in a natural setting? Could
we make something delicious or useful or personal to give to those we love?
Could we not burden one another with yet more objects that will break or
disappoint or just take up more space in our homes?
This might be a good time
to spend our time and money doing something to better the lives of less
fortunate others, of whom there are many. This might be the time to give money
to a charity in the name of someone we love. This might be the time to
re-examine our values and, if Christian, emulate the Christ whose birthday we
celebrate.
Copyright
2013 by Shirley Domer
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