Black Friday. The best and worst shopping day of the year. The day after we give thanks for our many blessings, and yet so many of us are immediately willing to fight for more. And sometimes, we fight to the death.
Case in point: The WalMart store in Long Island, New York, where a temporary worker was trampled to death by the crowd waiting to enter the store. This poor man was trampled by dozens of shoppers who, feeling flesh beneath their feet, ignored it and ran for the sales. When police attempted to clear the building, they were met with resistance from those who were more interested in saving money than the welfare of another human being.
And this is Christmas?!?! This is how you honor the birth of your lord?!?!
Forgive my bluntness, but you aren't honoring anything except the Golden Calf. This is blatant greed at its worst, and a total disregard for the well-being of others. This is most decidedly NOT what Jesus taught. I'm betting Jesus cried all day for that man. I'm betting he cried in shame at what people have done to his teachings.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to provide a good life for your family. And certainly there is nothing wrong with trying to save a few dollars. But when greed turns you into a rabid, drooling member of a mob... totally thoughtless, totally out of control... then you have a serious problem. And a new TV set isn't going to help.
Most who read this will say to themselves, "it's not my fault." They will remind themselves that they weren't at that store. The will console themselves with the belief that their desire for more and more really isn't greed, per se.
And they will be wrong. For as long as we as a society buy into the More is Better mentality, as long as we finance our "dream life" with deficit spending, as long as we look with pride in ourselves at others who have less, we are a part of this problem. We pretend to be spiritual, yet worship gold and possessions above all else. We espouse a religion -- all the while berating others for not believing as we do -- only to spurn its teachings at every opportunity. And with every greedy act, every act of selfishness, we kill our own spirits. We do harm to our mortal souls. And we perpetuate the status quo mindset that it's all good as long as we get ours.
This is NOT Christmas the way it was explained to me as a child. And it is not Christmas as it should be celebrated.
My deepest sympathy to the family of that poor man. I hope WalMart will set up a fund to help them in this, their greatest loss. If they do, I'll offer what I can, and post a link here so you can do the same if you are of a mind to do so.
As we progress through the next several weeks, I urge all of you to carefully consider the teachings of your chosen religion. Ask yourself if this is the kind of behavior your religion espouses. Ask yourself if a new TV is worth sacrificing your spirit. For those who choose to live a life with Spirit, the answer is obvious. The answer is "NO!"
In peace,
Lane
Case in point: The WalMart store in Long Island, New York, where a temporary worker was trampled to death by the crowd waiting to enter the store. This poor man was trampled by dozens of shoppers who, feeling flesh beneath their feet, ignored it and ran for the sales. When police attempted to clear the building, they were met with resistance from those who were more interested in saving money than the welfare of another human being.
And this is Christmas?!?! This is how you honor the birth of your lord?!?!
Forgive my bluntness, but you aren't honoring anything except the Golden Calf. This is blatant greed at its worst, and a total disregard for the well-being of others. This is most decidedly NOT what Jesus taught. I'm betting Jesus cried all day for that man. I'm betting he cried in shame at what people have done to his teachings.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to provide a good life for your family. And certainly there is nothing wrong with trying to save a few dollars. But when greed turns you into a rabid, drooling member of a mob... totally thoughtless, totally out of control... then you have a serious problem. And a new TV set isn't going to help.
Most who read this will say to themselves, "it's not my fault." They will remind themselves that they weren't at that store. The will console themselves with the belief that their desire for more and more really isn't greed, per se.
And they will be wrong. For as long as we as a society buy into the More is Better mentality, as long as we finance our "dream life" with deficit spending, as long as we look with pride in ourselves at others who have less, we are a part of this problem. We pretend to be spiritual, yet worship gold and possessions above all else. We espouse a religion -- all the while berating others for not believing as we do -- only to spurn its teachings at every opportunity. And with every greedy act, every act of selfishness, we kill our own spirits. We do harm to our mortal souls. And we perpetuate the status quo mindset that it's all good as long as we get ours.
This is NOT Christmas the way it was explained to me as a child. And it is not Christmas as it should be celebrated.
My deepest sympathy to the family of that poor man. I hope WalMart will set up a fund to help them in this, their greatest loss. If they do, I'll offer what I can, and post a link here so you can do the same if you are of a mind to do so.
As we progress through the next several weeks, I urge all of you to carefully consider the teachings of your chosen religion. Ask yourself if this is the kind of behavior your religion espouses. Ask yourself if a new TV is worth sacrificing your spirit. For those who choose to live a life with Spirit, the answer is obvious. The answer is "NO!"
In peace,
Lane
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