Black Friday

Sunday 12/1/2013 6:53 AM

We are entering into a time of the year that has always made me feel uncomfortable.  Growing up our family had very little money and so we did not decorate with Christmas trees, lights and tinsel nor did we exchange gifts as most of my friends did.  My mother would carefully tape the Christmas cards we received from friends on the closet door in the shape of a tree or hang them from a string that had been strung across the room, which was the closest that we ever came to a tree or a string of lights in our house.  If we got any gift at all it was a new pair of socks or underwear, something that was useful but not very much fun to share with one’s classmates when returning from Christmas vacation.  We lived moderately, but happily.

When I got married I had to compromise.  Jaci’s family always had a traditional Christmas complete with trees, gifts and a Christmas dinner with turkey or ham and all the trimmings.  We would get a tree if we were going to stay home for the holidays but if we went to visit her family in Iowa we would forego the tree in our own home.  We tried to limit the number of presents that were exchanged but there were always gifts under the tree and small surprises in the stockings on Christmas morning.  We lived moderately, but happily.

This year it seems like things are out of control.  Stores are opening on Thanksgiving Day in order to lure shoppers in for an early start to the Christmas rush.  Black Friday brought news of altercations, shootings and even an attack with a Taser as customers fought over merchandise in stores.  Yesterday I heard a commercial for a non-profit organization asking for donations for toys so that children who are homeless or living in poverty can get the toys they deserve.  It seems that each year we spend more and more on Christmas to make our kids and other family members happy but the result is far from what is desired.  There is simply increased financial hardship due to excessive debt and more dysfunction in families.

Our society and the ads that pummel us mercilessly call for us to sate our appetites, fulfill our desires, and pursue our dreams, regardless of the cost to us or to those who live in close proximity to us.  This kind of overindulgence results in obesity, drug, alcohol and other addictions, and a general lack of compassion and civility within our society.  People are too worried about fulfilling their own desires to concern themselves about how their behavior might affect others.

Jesus called his disciples to deny themselves, to take up their cross and to follow him.  Somehow it seems like we in the Christian community have not heard that message.  Self-denial?  Unheard of.  Putting the needs of others ahead or our own?  Outrageous.  Sacrificing so that others may prosper?  You must be a liberal Democrat or a communist sympathizer.  We have not only bought into the message of our society, sometimes it seems we are leading the cheers.

Jesus said that his disciples are the light of the world.  I feel like Christians today are no longer modeling moderation, temperance, self-control or contentment in our overindulgent society.  It seems like our light is a guttering candle and, if our light goes out, it will be a black Friday indeed.