Getting ready for Christmas

I was having a discussion with some friends about how we should celebrate Christmas this year, and maybe how we should start planning now to make it a Christmas with at least a partial message of non-consumerism, or at least bridaled consumerism. There was some discussion about how we need change hearts and minds and that maybe focusing on non-consumerism isn't really the right angle. I agree with this idea except to say that the only real way to change a heart and mind is to have that change to be manifested in behaviour. I believe that all of our good intentions at Christmas are generally cancelled out by our propensity toward hyper-consumerism. Not to mention that in many cases the simple living out our cultural norms (ie shopping at wal-mart, using lots of energy, eating lots of food) is actually contributing to the oppression of people all over the world, and although a "boycott" is not really what I think is necessary or effective, a change in behaviour would at least go along way to open the hearts of our church to the fact that our actions have a rippling if not tidal wave effect on people all the way across the world.

I definately agree that the non-consumerism message should not be the only message of the Christmas season, but never-the-less think about what would happen if we did just that. If people actually tried to live out a non-consumeristic Christmas, that would leave them with a giant void (where all the stuff used to be). I think that would be great, because even if nobody mentioned it, since it IS Christmas, Jesus would get some attention. It's not like Jesus is really the subject of the season now anyway, refocusing to to a message of non-consumerism could at least create the opportunity for Jesus to come up in a meaningful way.

Also, as one who has kids, I can attest that it is almost impossible to keep the focus of Christmas on Christ, family, and friends when there is so much time, money, and attention spent on stuff. (right around august we start getting hammered by our relatives to get our Christmas lists together, so basically the consumeristic stage is set very early)

Personally I am all for consumerism, but let's do it right. Here are some thoughts (I might cover some of these ideas in depth in future posts):

• Take the time to find quality items that aren't made by slaves and pay more for them on purpose.
• Since quality items cost more it may cut into your budget, that's ok, just buy less.
• Don't cut out the middle man (he might be your neighbor), and if you cut him out he'll probably have to go to work at wal-mart.
• Have a few awkward Christmas's with no or very few gifts, and let that time of awkward silence (when you'd usually be opening gifts) slowly be filled with conversation and the enjoyment of each other, it'll become normal and comfortable soon enough.
• Tell someone you love them, and try to show it in a way that doesn't involve purchasing something from wal-mart.
• Spend more money on food and eat it together.
• Buy your food from a local farmer, have him tell you a story about it/himself/his family/his business, relate that story to your family.
• Prepare the food with the people you are spending christmas with.
• Buy gifts that aid in the preparation of the christmas meal.
• It must be getting close to lunch because I am talking alot about food.

I'm pretty passionate about this for several reasons, one being that I am all for the resurrection of the small business owner in America and the small town and tight knit neighborhood in the cities. Two I don't like the new slavery, I think it's more cruel than even the slavery of the South in America, because at least those slaves were housed and fed and cared for to some extent because at least they were property (which was horribly wrong), but the slaves of today are less than property. They are simply an endless supply of hungry people, and if they can't care for themselves and thier families on $.13 an hour we'll just get another one who will try. And most importantly I think that one of our jobs as Christians is to redeem things for Christ. And the way we trade with each other is a very good thing to redeem for Him, it is really something that cuts right to the core of who we are.

That's my pocket full of change on this subject, there's probably some more in there somewhere, maybe i should check the seat cushions in my couch...