advent conspiracy

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."- Matthew 25: 40

"what can we get you guys for christmas? have you started a list?", reads the email that comes each year, mid-november. no matter who it was addressed to - parent to child, child to parent, sibling to sibling...it always comes. with the answer the same: "let me think on it, and i'll get back to you."
and then the pressure - the kids don't need more toys. there is nothing i really want that badly. jim doesn't like "stuff" very much....who knows what goes on at their end, but it is assuredly something similar.
2 weeks later, the next email comes: "i really want to get my shopping done? haven't you thought of anything yet?"

and i answer then. or i don't. or i promise to really really soon. and so do they. gift cards or money, sweat pants or a book, a bowl or a pair of running shoes. but it's always the same. 3 sets of adults who have all of their needs met, and most of their wants - who can buy their own things, who stress about what to buy others, who nag to get a list so that they can scour the ads, drive around a parking lot, wander around in a hot coat in a stuffy store, stand in endless lines, wrap and tag and sort and plan and run back out for the gift for the cousin or auntie that they missed. spending money they'd rather not, on stuff that may or may not fit the bill just to say we did it, and it's done because that's what you are supposed to do.

meanwhile the things i WANT to do- like bake more, have friends and family over, decorate, read with the girls, drive around looking at lights - are packed in around the have-tos and become further burdens. the present buying, the card writing (addressing, mailing), the parties you don't really want to go to. i think i've had the same complaint for years now about the high-jacking of the christmas season. but this year is different.

inspired by a challenge put forth by churches across the nation, called the 'advent conspiracy' (video below), we will be doing a less is more christmas this year. instead of rushing to the home depot for a christmas tree at the last minute - we'll go to a proper farm and let the girls pick one out. instead of the nagging emails shot between my adult family members, we will pool our money to give gifts to those in actual need. i am sitting out on card exchanges because of the cost and time it takes. there will be more christmas carols and crafts, more cookies and friends. less stress, more giving. as my 6 year old succinctly put it: 'it's Jesus' birthday, he should get the presents'. but Christ doesn't need fuzzy socks. however, he did tell us how to give him gifts, it is from the above passage of Matthew 25 and it involves clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty.

on wall street and financial districts all over the nation today people are protesting who knows what. but one thing i know for sure is that they are railing against the government, a society, anyone who will listen - to let them know that there are people who have, and people who have none. regardless of my political beliefs are, my religious belief and my aching heart tell me that people around the world are hungry, thirsty, hurt, sick and lost. but i am not. and i can help. if i don't - then what good has my life been? are you with me?

i want to challenge you this holiday season. don't just throw a buck into the red kettle and be satisfied. you know you have so much more than so many. i know it because you have a computer to read this on. figure out your christmas budget, look at what you spend your money on - food, holiday outfits, hair-dos, gifts, postage, decorations - and out of that see if there is something that can go. but instead of just reveling in how much money you'll save this christmas - give that amount away. there are a million ways to help - from having a well dug in a depressed country to buying christmas dinner for the struggling family at the end of your street. there is something you can do.
will you?