Conspicuous Consumption

This morning, thousands of people stood in line waiting for stores to open as part of the kick off to "Black Friday" and the official start of the Christmas shopping season. Sometimes I wonder what prompts this need to race out to a store to buy the "hot items" of the year or to buy gifts for certain people, knowing we simply can't afford to do so. Maybe I'm being naive but I'm a big believer that Christmas is all year long. Again, this goes back to my "just because" attitude. Why can't people do nice things all the time just because? Why does it feel like during this particular time of the year even the most hateful people all of a sudden have kindness in their hearts during the Christmas rush? And why does it seem that as soon as the ball drops in Times Square, scowls return for six weeks only to be broken for one 24 hour period we call Valentine's Day? I wonder what is in people's hearts? What is in their minds?

For those waiting in long lines at registers and fighting over the elusive Elmo doll or an early bird specially reduced pair of shoes, I have to wonder...is it really worth it? I wonder if any of them thought about the people who stood in line yesterday and waited for a hot meal to be served to them. I wonder if some shoppers thought about buying basic necessities like food or clothing to donate to someone who will surely go without today. I wonder if many people even think about the fact that most citizens are literally two paychecks away from homelessness. I wonder. Yesterday I saw men, women, and little ones who came in to get a hot meal and out of the cold wetness. I wondered where will they all go after they eat? Where will they be tomorrow? The day after that? And the next? What other lines will they have to stand in down the road? As many shop today, I hope that some will remember that there are many others out there who will go without...everyday. I hope some shoppers will get into the true spirit of the holidays by trying to make a positive, meaningful difference in someone else's life. I'll also pray that they do.