Christmas Toys and More

I read bumper stickers. There are lots of things I wouldn't know if I hadn't seen them on bumper stickers. The wisdom of our day. Two I've seen many times over the years showed up again recently on the same day and got me thinking about their combined message.

The first was "The one with the most toys when he dies, wins." This is, of course, a comment on the materialism of our day--the mad drive to shop and acquire--that infests our culture. Of course, at this time of year, we're not thinking just of general materialism, but Christmas materialism, in particular--that drive to spend and overspend, to stress already-maxed credit cards and deplete savings in order to decorate and to pile mounds of brightly-wrapped packages under picture-perfect Christmas trees.

Growing up, I wondered if every "preacher" I'd ever heard had been required to prepare one or several sermons against "Christmas Materialism" as a condition for ordination. I knew that, every December, we'd be "treated" to one, or even two, of these sermons. Now we can blog.

A partial antidote for this drive, I've found, is living in Florida. Here attics, basements, and storage sheds are scarce. So many, if not most, Floridians are faced with the prospect of taking something to the curb every time we bring something new home. Or if not to the curb, then to the local thrift shop or church rummage sale.

But we do live in a culture which encourages us to "spend, spend, spend" and to always yearn for the next new thing. And we've not yet developed an antidote.

The other bumper sticker I again encountered is: "The most important things in life aren't things." Living far from family--from children and grandchildren--and having a spouse with a serious life-limiting illness makes it easy for me to relate to this bit of wisdom. What I really want "under my tree" this--and any future Christmas--is family and folks who are important to us.

I saw a bright red Corvette with a For Sale sign the other day. And it again helped me confirm that I'm not yet ready to start my "mid-life crisis." (I've been told that life's hardest decision is when to start middle age.) I'd much rather have a year of health for those I love than a red Corvette, if I can "pick my presents."

May the ill find health, the destitute hope, the persecuted justice, the oppressed freedom, the warred-upon peace, and our world life in all its fullness. The peace and hope of Christmas to you and to all you love.