I saw a commercial this week that started with a voice-over about a man who thought that Christmas was an excuse to get people to spend their money. Exactly!, I thought.
As the commercial went on, I found myself agreeing more and more with the sentiments of this man.
Then, it said: “Tonight at 8pm, Dicken’s A Christmas Carol“.
and steve… that’s why A Christmas Carol is so awesome.
Here’s what I wonder: even if Christmas is (or has developed into) an “excuse to get people to spend their money,” why exactly is that a bad thing?
It’s not like people are spending money selfishly. Indeed the benefits to employees of the stores we purchase from at Christmas, and to the people who make the goods we purchase would all seem to be a Good Thing.
I like presents and money.
Peter, it may be an activity which brings value but that is very far from the Good. The birth being celebrated led to many confrontations with economic values and confirmed the need to not look deeper into the commercial activity of a community so much as to look elsewhere in the community for the Good. In the few days of enforced stilling of the tills (one day extra in bits of this Commonwealth) what is there can be seen.
While I do find it discouraging that a holiday that is supposed to be a religious celebration and a time of spiritual tranquility has been turned into a commercial frenzy, I kept thinking of the same thing as I tried to think of present ideas: the only thing I hate more than buying for the sake of buying is receiving without giving.
And now I’m done and all is good, so I can experience the spiritual tranquility and stuff without the commercial frenzy. 🙂
Oh yes, and presents and money are good.
I know how he feels too … I’ll write my version of A Christmas Carol for Christmas Day 😀
Right! The snowball fight is on; and you’ve been snowballed… Ha! And if you are into Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings then don’t forget to read this: http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news1202/twotowers.html