Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

"Full Contact Shopping"

Watching the crowd in Buffalo lined up to come into the store to shop on Black Friday was an appalling thing to see. One customer fell and was almost trampled. He said afterward, "I thought I was going to die there. I didn't want to die in the store that way."

What is it that makes us become competitive this time of year? What is it that allows kindness and good cheer to yield to hateful actions and the need to defeat others who are trying to get what we may want to buy?

The gift giving at Christmas is spawned by the story of the Magi who came to give the Christ Child gold frankincense and myrrh. We replicate that story with gifts we purchase for each other. If our children want something for Christmas we will fight someone else to get it for them.

It seems to me we need to take a look at what happens to us this time of year. It seems we ought to consider what we are doing and why we are doing it.

In contrast, this is a season of good will. There are acts of kindness that happen. People work hard to try to work things out with people with whom there has been differences of opinion. We try to be helpful. We bake cookies and cakes and take them to people who are having a hard time. We pay for people to have a Christmas by donating money and gifts. It is a time of good will and love.

There is the dark side of Advent and there is the kind and wonderful side.

What do you think it will be this year? How can we make certain we do not become competitive and hostile?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.




Charles Schuster