'Tis the season and such for gift giving, a tradition that proves our country's capitalistic obsession and that devours some of the season's sense of spirituality and gentle peacefulness (for example, long lines at the mega-store, screaming children, and the "I saw it first" mentality). The holiday can easily become something ugly. But what folks, especially the antagonists to the "biggest shopping time of the year," don't realize is that there is some sort of redemption in all of the hullabaloo.
I have to admit that I like it.
Of course I'm not talking about the ugliness that can be the product of our evolutionary (and Westernized) instinct - survival of the fattest. I am talking about the fact that there are many more of us who say, "Please go ahead of me. You were first," or who shop the sales because they actually WANT to give the people they love the BEST presents they can afford. For most people, going to the mall is an outing that they get to enjoy with their families, and not a cranky burden. It is a chance to actually have human contact with people in the outside world -communitas (the spirit of community)- something that our society is getting really bad at due to our lack of practice. I guess I might even say that we NEED this time to remind us that it is OK to NEED each other.
Have you ever sent someone a present just because, given him a card for no reason other than you were thinking about him, or told him that you love him, sincerely and truly because you appreciate who he is? This type of communication has become awkward in our society and even inappropriate since we are conditioned to not need anyone. I even fight the urge to react ungracefully when someone new tells me that they like who I am or even if they hug me because they are glad to see me. Christmas gives us an excuse for these types of behaviors to be acceptable.
And yes, some people are shitty. Some people are in it for the receiving instead of for the giving. And maybe the rest of us are over compensating for something that we should be doing year round, but at least we have this right now, and thank God for it.
When one says that we are losing focus of "the reason for the season," I think it's fair to remind them that goodwill toward men and glad tidings are of paramount significance to the rest of the story, even if the only way we know how to show it is through shopping.
2 comments:
I am beyond thankful that we are surrounded by people who do not understand that "This type of communication has become awkward in our society and even inappropriate since we are conditioned to not need anyone." Thanks for reminding me of how blessed we are to have our lives filled with folks whom we need and who need us...and who say so. :)
I especially like your last paragraph.
I'm with you -- I like the shopping because it makes me think of all the people I love individually and then purposefully go out looking for something they'd like. It can be a challenge, but carrying that person in my head for that period of time is a way to love them and, for me, have them near to me even though they're really far away.
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