This is one of those days where I feel completely un-American and am almost embarassed to belong to such a society. The way we idolize and chase after material posessions is disheartening and pathetic. We get up all hours of the night, wait in lines that in most cases and on normal days we are way 'too good for' because they are entirely way too long, and we push people out of the way just to get some stupid thing(s) which we probably already have 4 of at home. Don't we all have enough stuff, already!? Seriously people if we Americans were this enthusiastic about the things that actually mattered you know how big of a difference we could make in this world!? Like how about speaking out for those who don't have a voice, and doing our part against the fight to end world hunger, and comforting those we know who are hurting. It's sickening to me to think that as we are spending so much time and money racing to get the latest and greatest of all this unecessary stuff that most of the world is uncertain of where their next meal will come from. And we are hurting? we are in an economic crisis!? ha, right. Maybe it's because I have been on the mission field, (ie Haiti) and I have seen what real poverty looks like and I see the faces of those beautiful children that I fell in love with who are filled with such joy despite the ridiculously hard circumstances they've faced who literally have absolutely nothing to call their own and are still thankful for what little they do have and I imagine how wide their eyes would be at the wealth we have in this country, and it makes me feel guilty. I am so grateful to my parents, who are not perfect by any means, our family is about as dysfunctional as they come, but they raised us right in regards to teaching us what is really important, and opening our eyes at such a young age to see how much true joy comes from giving, especially to those who can give nothing in return but still make it a priority to find ways to do so whether by a huge smile, a hug, or a written 'thank you' the stays with you forever and touches your soul. I can only hope and pray that Ryan and I can do the same for Makenna and her future siblings in that area because I am certain that taking that first mission trip to Haiti during Christmas of '03 completely changed my life, though I was only 12 years old God spoke to me during the trip, He gave me direction and a purpose He ignited a fire and a passion in me for those children and I have not been the same since. Sorry for the downer I just refuse to partake in such materialistic madness while the rest of the world is struggling to survive and I cannot sit back and say nothing when my heart is crying in disbelief at the selfishness of this country. And believe me, I am speaking to myself as well, not really in regards to black friday shopping but in everyday life, I need to be more aware of those around me, of needs I can meet, of ways I can help, getting involved in something that actually means something. So I challenge you (and me) today, to think about those who don't have what we have and if I'm sending you shopping with a guilt-trip, well good, take that and do something with it. Something meaningful, something selfless and see how much better that feels and how much more satisfied you are with youself when the day is done.
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." Luke 12:48b NASB
