“We must not avoid holiday fever. We must avoid rushing the holidays.” Rev. Bill Pfohl.
It’s official. The world can be divided in one more way: those who break the door and those who don’t.
You’ve probably heard the term by now. It refers to people who get up before dawn, especially on “Black Friday,” and literally walk through store doors when they open in the morning to do business. This lovely little ritual is only a few years old … and it seems like it starts earlier in the day and attracts more and more devotees each year.
Since several of my friends get involved in this practice, I can’t stop doing it. I understand that people who break the door think it is the most normal thing in the world; Those of us who wouldn’t get caught dead doing so think they’re absolutely insane.
The radio program on Friday morning was loaded with debates about this phenomenon. Surprisingly, the calling audience felt overwhelmingly that breaking doors is actually quite a virtuous practice. That helps teach kids the value of hard-earned money. Let those who dedicate themselves to it show perseverance. Work diligently for what they want. They are willing to sacrifice sleep and comfort to get it. They are smart spenders. Exercise good stewardship.
I? It was a silent point, as she needed to take Nick to the doctor for his weekly checkup (for leukemia). I couldn’t have broken the door if I wanted to. And I can’t imagine, even in my wildest dreams, the mere thought. I hate crowds. I hate standing in line. I hate standing in line in the cold. I hate giving up my morning coffee ritual. I wouldn’t dream of leaving my warm bed in the dark and cold before dawn.
However, I admit that I am once again overwhelmed by my long Christmas shopping list and would love, as my door-breaking friends can boast, to have it almost finished. Gifts purchased, wrapped and ready to ship. I faced frustration once again as I contemplated how to kindly allow the true spirit of Christmas to enter my family’s reality while meeting all the demands of the season. To follow my pastor’s advice in this week’s sermon: “We shouldn’t avoid holiday fever. We should avoid rushing the holidays.”
Every year around this time, I make my gift list, review those for the past few years, and aim to be smarter, more thoughtful, and more efficient. Every year around this time, I don’t budget for the three most important factors (time, money, and energy) to get going. And every year around this time. I submit to some of the inevitable: shopping at the mall, waiting at the post office, and last minute orders. I resolve – year after year after year – “to be better.” And yet, keep my eye on the ball. Remember that this Advent season is to help us get closer to the baby Jesus. Deepen our relationship with him.
So where does that fit in? Where, between the holidays and the contests, the cookies and the cards, is the message of Christmas woven into the fabric of these next four weeks? How can one stay true to the message and yet live in coherence with cultural expectations? Gift giving is one of the mainstays of the holidays. And yet it comes at an emotional, financial, and physical cost. Whether we like it or not.
For whatever they are worth, these are my benchmarks for preparing and celebrating the holidays with vigor and enthusiasm:
Think naturally.
There is something about natural beauty. In faces, fashion and home decor. This year’s friends will receive gifts from outside or from my local garden center: flowers, bulbs, topiaries. Clay pots, sphagnum moss and everything. No shine. No shine. Simple.
Think small.
It never fails – just when I think I’ve outgrown the system and figured out the exact postage for my smaller packages perfectly well, I end up making three or four long trips to the post office with half a dozen boxes in my arms. each and every time. This year, I am thinking small and light. Gifts that can be easily stored in small padded envelopes. With predetermined and attached stamps. Stationery, note cards, writing tablets. Jewels. Intelligent.
Think of home.
I love receiving homemade cookies, as I hardly ever bake in my own home. (It is not mine). So I assume that others love receiving them as much as I do. I never forget the best Christmas cookie recognized by our family’s time: peanut butter and Ritz cookie sandwiches dipped in dark or white chocolate. Packaged in pretty tins or boxes, they remain a perennial favorite and will find their way onto my kitchen counter, as well as some brown packages this year like they do every year. Easy.
Think handmade.
I always think that this Christmas will be different: I will paint large quantities of miniature oil canvases, I will hook a multitude of hand-dyed wool stockings, decoupage glass plates for all my neighbors, or embroidery belts for the four of us. our children … and then life gets in the way. Amid the hustle and bustle, I invariably end up at my favorite local merchant, filling their counter with a dozen of my favorite things and handing that item to each and every one of my friends, like it or not. It is not necessarily the most thoughtful approach, but certainly one of the most convenient. But if I can sync it right, I’ll be playing in my studio this year, trying to create something with my heart. Using my own hands and spending more time than any other ingredient. Honest.
I admit it: this approach only works for adults. Brides are among the most appreciative group I know. But as for all the little ones on your list: give up. You’ll find yourself in more toy stores than you ever thought possible, looking for talking dolls, action-packed video games, new bikes, and glow-in-the-dark balls. And you’ll spend a lot more on those three specials (time, money, and energy) than you had planned. As for those teens on your list? My own daughter has high hopes for Juicy Couture and I hope they are all sold out. Shopping centers and madness. Gross! The mere thought wears me out.
If only I had broken the door.