Do they know its Christmas time at all?
Last year, at about this same time in fact, I was in a minivan with my co-worker Lesley, a very nice Christian lady with a charming Geordie accent. We were driving to a women's conference just outside the town of Denby (as in the pottery).
Lesley and I had a nice chat and one of the topics that came up was social responsibility and the English and Americans being part of the wealthiest class on earth. The Make Poverty History campaign was in full swing at that time, and Lesley revealed to me that last year her family had decided that instead of buying each other lots of Christmas presents that they really didn't need, that they would instead spend most of their allotted Christmas budget to buy a well for a village in Africa. Her children were involved in the decision-making process and it uniquely brought them together and illustrated, in a lasting way, the gospel. I had heard people complaining before about the unnecessary lavishing of gifts at Christmas time among the already wealthy, but this positive, proactive allotment of funds was impressive to me.
As the air started to nip this fall, and as the unmistakable smell of "the holidays" (i.e. cinnamon), began to assault Sam's nose in every retail store, I remembered this story about Lesley's family. And I also remembered Derek Webb's mention of the Blood: Water Mission at his concert at OU a couple weeks ago. And I'm in the process of putting 2 & 2 together. I'm going to write out a realistic idea of what our Christmas budget would look like and see about putting this plan into action for myself. I encourage you to do the same, reader. Think about the impact!
I'm still working out how to do this properly, without offending or underhandedly just trying to turn my gifts to others into help for Africa instead of making more of a sacrifice myself. I think I'll have to ask everyone to not buy presents for me, and to instead donate the allotted money. Oh well, still thinking it through. But I still think this is an idea with promise, cheesy blogtitles aside.
Lesley and I had a nice chat and one of the topics that came up was social responsibility and the English and Americans being part of the wealthiest class on earth. The Make Poverty History campaign was in full swing at that time, and Lesley revealed to me that last year her family had decided that instead of buying each other lots of Christmas presents that they really didn't need, that they would instead spend most of their allotted Christmas budget to buy a well for a village in Africa. Her children were involved in the decision-making process and it uniquely brought them together and illustrated, in a lasting way, the gospel. I had heard people complaining before about the unnecessary lavishing of gifts at Christmas time among the already wealthy, but this positive, proactive allotment of funds was impressive to me.
As the air started to nip this fall, and as the unmistakable smell of "the holidays" (i.e. cinnamon), began to assault Sam's nose in every retail store, I remembered this story about Lesley's family. And I also remembered Derek Webb's mention of the Blood: Water Mission at his concert at OU a couple weeks ago. And I'm in the process of putting 2 & 2 together. I'm going to write out a realistic idea of what our Christmas budget would look like and see about putting this plan into action for myself. I encourage you to do the same, reader. Think about the impact!
I'm still working out how to do this properly, without offending or underhandedly just trying to turn my gifts to others into help for Africa instead of making more of a sacrifice myself. I think I'll have to ask everyone to not buy presents for me, and to instead donate the allotted money. Oh well, still thinking it through. But I still think this is an idea with promise, cheesy blogtitles aside.
posted by Laura Negus at 8:37 PM
3 Comments:
I just want to say that I've been second guessing this entry ever since I made it. I think my attitude is too ascetic/ obnoxious hippie. But I'm trying to find a middle ground.
Laura,
If you are interested in helping, save your money and come on a medical mission trip to China or South America. I have been asked several times to lead a team and am considering it in the next couple of years. I recently met a missionary from Haiti who seemed interested in, not only my last name, but also my profession and how it may help the Haitians. Give it some thought and brush up on your French, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.
Dr. Alex
It sucks having your "love language" be gift-giving. I love picking them, making them, and wrapping them; as well as receiving and unwrapping them.
Which is not to say that I wouldn't love money donated in my honor, with a certificate to that effect wrapped up with a pretty bow. It's not the thing, it's the experience.
I didn't think your post was too ascetic. It made me stop and think. :)
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