Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Irreverin

Home
Progressive Christian
Simple Gifts

Simple Gifts

Last updated on: October 29, 2012 at 4:05 pm by Erin Wathen

Simple Gifts 2012-10-29T16:05:00-07:00 Erin Wathen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Every year we complain.

“The traffic is terrible!” “The lines are ridiculous!” “The stuff is out in October!” “If i hear one more Celine Dion ‘O Holy Night,’ I’m going to puke!” “My credit card bill is outrageous!”

And then, every year…every year of the world…we do it all again.

Why do we think this is what the season has to look like? We’ve been programmed, is why. And who is programming us? Retailers. Credit card companies. The vast and varied entertainment industries. They are counting on the chaos and cash of Christmas. It’s crummy and it’s corny. (You’re welcome, English majors).

We’ve been talking for years about shopping less, buying less, and spending less. And yet, for many people, what that means is more trips out into the madness to nail down the best deals, and spend the least amount possible on the most stuff.

What few people talk about–in the secular world, OR the faith community–is the toll on our soul, when this rush lasts for the full season of Advent, AND the 6 weeks before…and the week or so after. It isn’t just the financial strain of all the running and buying; there is a very real spiritual stress that comes from putting ourselves in the midst of this frenzied environment. (Not to mention the very real health hazards that come from road rage, towering aisle displays=concussions waiting to happen, and the crazy [crazy] women at the craft stores. Lord help us all.)

This year, I’m not just spending less–i’m doing less. With a few exceptions (like an area assembly of the Church, and some day trips with our Thanksgiving guests) i am staying within a 6.5 mile radius of my house until January. (I know that is a very specific number–but that is how far the church is from home. So…) I will not be visiting a Target or HomeDepot or HobbyLobby. Nor will i go to Costco or Trader Joe’s, because they are too close to the dang mall. It goes without saying that i will not be going to the mall. If it’s not on amazon.com, then i don’t need it.

We’ll talk on another day about all the ways magazines and ‘news’ shows are telling me to help people out ‘during the holiday season.’ As if Jesus only ever healed lepers on his birthday? Anyway… if you really want to help others this holiday season, think of folks who are lonely would love to spend a few hours of time with you. Think simple.

And also, shop simple. Donate to the Heifer Project; you can tell your loved ones that you bought them a donkey, which is pretty badass (ha ha). And meanwhile, you are helping a family–really, a whole village–in a developing country to develop sustainable means of living. Likewise, you can find a great fair trade store in your area, or shop online at Ten Thousand Villages. Buy really cool, unique stuff from the global community, and help artists and farmers make an honest living. (Also, it’s time we learn to buy things that don’t come from a factory in China. For more reasons than one). There’s also Etsy if you want authentic craft without being such a hippie about it. This is what the crazy Hobby Lobby moms go home and make in their Pinterest-ed laundry rooms. Better than a sweatshop in China…

And if there is that one gift that your kid really, really wants, and you don’t want to be a bad Santa, then there’s this magical thing called amazon.com. They deliver quick, and for free. That’s where my magic princess whatever is going to come from this year, and the rest I’ve been collecting from consignment sales. And when i say ‘the rest,’ my kids each get 3 or 4 things to open, plus stockings. Plus whatever comes from grandma. It is always more than enough.

And what is enough? We ask ourselves the same thing every year. Maybe it’s time to change the conversation; instead of asking, ‘what is enough?’ maybe we need to be saying, ‘what is too much?” I know what is too much for me–with my increasing tendencies toward anxiety in big crowd situations, the mall is too much. Target is too much. The craft store is, Lord help me, more than I can bear. It is costly to my soul, and so I am going to be home, chilling in my sweats with some hot chocolate, while the rest of the world shops. Til it drops. Literally.

What’s too much for you? Your limit might be different than mine, and you might find great comfort and joy in all that madness. But whatever your ‘too much’ might be, know when you’ve hit it. And, for the sake of your spirit, your bank account, and the planet, know when you’ve had enough, and just go home. Be in the presence of the people you love, and maybe even get into the wilderness. There’s a rhythm of grace there, close to your house and your heart, and you don’t even have to wait in line to find it.

Here’s a little travelling music. Do yourself a favor and skip the ad. Then, enjoy the journey…

Previous Post

October 26, 2012

In the Presence of the World

Next Post

October 30, 2012 ...but the Lord was not in the wind

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category a good week for progress Advent and Christmas Being a Person desert life faith and community Good News for Progressives Lent and Easter Marriage and Family S*^! Jesus Says sabbatical road tripping Spirituality in Culture Talking to Strangers the "Best Stuff I Ever Ate" diet travel Uncategorized writing Writing Prompt Wednesday

Select a Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 February 2011 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the last king of Israel before the Assyrian conquest?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jehoahaz Hoshea Shallum Amon