Black Friday was Actually a Bright Spot

Well we survived it. Black Friday is now a distant memory. It was shockingly colored by two seriously disturbing events, but people still shopped in large numbers. There were enough "numbers" that a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death. There was also a gun battle at a Toys-R-Us. So it's hard to challenge that people weren't passionate this year about the season. Fortunately, most places were just normally busy with frantic, but law abiding shoppers.

However, with all of the good news that shopping was a little better than last year, there was also the bad news. You see, there was one significant change from previous years. Reporters were hard-pressed to explain the phenomenon, but eagerly reported this serious threat to our economy. It turns out that people were indeed shopping at a very brisk pace, but they were only shopping for others... they weren't buying for themselves!

Oh, my gosh. The world is coming to an end. I can't believe that it has come to this. People are setting aside personal needs to think of others during this Christmas season? Well, it was fun while it lasted.

I know, it's over the top tongue-in-cheek stuff there... I couldn't help myself. I don't know about you, but for me, it's sort of natural to think of others at Christmas time. It's the season to be jolly and to live in a way that reminds us of Jesus Christ... whose birth we actually celebrate at this time of year. We should be shedding the "what's in it for me" attitude and doing our best to put someone else first... and for many people, to put someone else first for a change. For example, Blagojevich, the now disenfranchised Governor of Illinois, apparently didn't know what time of year it was as he tried to enrich himself by selling an appointment for senator. Unreal.

Well, enough said. The times are what they are. Money is tight. The economy struggles from day to day. Jobs are more scarce. Companies are closing their doors. It is what it is. Still, I actually find it refreshing that people, even in these tough times, are thinking of others instead of themselves while Christmas shopping. As one born in a lowly manger, Jesus Christ, in His poverty, gave all that He had to others. It somehow seems fitting that American's are shopping... and not for themselves.