Recent Cause Activity
Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we will be inundated even more with Christmas advertisements asking us to go and buy stuff for our friends, families, and ourselves. In spite of these attempts to get us off the couch and into the stores, perhaps that is a good time to take a moment to reflect on what the true meaning of the season is. I know for me, it won't be going out to buy something but to go out and give the gift of presence. That is priceless.
Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we will be inundated even more with Christmas advertisements asking us to go and buy stuff for our friends, families, and ourselves. In spite of these attempts to get us off the couch and into the stores, perhaps that is a good time to take a moment to reflect on what the true meaning of the season is. I know for me, it won't be going out to buy something but to go out and give the gift of presence. That is priceless.
I think that one of the greatest things we can do is to go out and be with people who are broken and hurting. While we as Christians understand this as going out to be Christ's presence to them (or that they just might be Christ's presence to us), this is something that anyone can do, no matter what they believe. Being with people is important, especially in a season with so much religious significance. The sad things is that American consumerism is the new religion on the block in many ways, and Christmas has become its major holiday. Let's redeem it for those who value being present to people to make their lives better -- and who are open to the possibility of their life being changed because of it as well!
I think that one of the greatest things we can do is to go out and be with people who are broken and hurting. While we as Christians understand this as going out to be Christ's presence to them (or that they just might be Christ's presence to us), this is something that anyone can do, no matter what they believe. Being with people is important, especially in a season with so much religious significance. The sad things is that American consumerism is the new religion on the block in many ways, and Christmas has become its major holiday. Let's redeem it for those who value being present to people to make their lives better -- and who are open to the possibility of their life being changed because of it as well!
Wow, the response on just the second day is great. Could it be that we were not the only ones feeling that our Christmas "rituals" have been missing the point?
Wow, the response on just the second day is great. Could it be that we were not the only ones feeling that our Christmas "rituals" have been missing the point?
Here's a way to "wean" some of your family off the "getting lots of stuff" bottle-- I give them a World Vision catalog and they can pick out a gift to send to someone in a developing country - a pig, a momma goat and two kids, a bicycle, a "share" of a cow, share of a well. a kit that contains all the tools a family needs to start growing food. There a LOTS of ideas. So you get joy of giving something meaningful, and they get to learn how good it feels to give as well!
Here's a way to "wean" some of your family off the "getting lots of stuff" bottle-- I give them a World Vision catalog and they can pick out a gift to send to someone in a developing country - a pig, a momma goat and two kids, a bicycle, a "share" of a cow, share of a well. a kit that contains all the tools a family needs to start growing food. There a LOTS of ideas. So you get joy of giving something meaningful, and they get to learn how good it feels to give as well!
My gift of presence : I donated blood today.