Friday, 23 November 2012
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Black Friday: Let's Fight the Anti-Holiday
Originally posted November 27, 2008I feel so mixed in writing about Black Friday, partly because the urge inside me to go out and buy stuff is so strong. I've always imagined myself as rather Spartan and minimalist, but looking back over the year (and my credit card statements) always makes me realize how loose my spending truly is. I realize that shopping makes me happy; as Don Miller describes it, buying something makes me feel... new, somehow. Refreshed. Excited. And the thought of getting a good deal on something makes me feel... resourceful. Efficient. Excited.
But in the end, spending out of pleasure is as strong a statement about myself as anything else. If not for Black Friday and the adrenaline rush I get when thinking about massive savings and all the wonderful new gadgets and toys I can buy (for a loved one, of course), I wouldn't realize how strong the pull of greed can really be. In a very strange and twisted way, it has made me more aware of my own ungratefulness and unthankfulness than Thanksgiving itself ever has. And for that character revelation, I suppose I should be thankful.This statement is not meant to be harsh or condemning to anyone who shops on Black Friday, but perhaps it is a worthy exercise to refuse to participate in that anti-holiday, if only because doing so reveals a little more about ourselves.
I have so much to be thankful for this year. My family is still here, and in good health. I have more friends than I can spend adequate time with. I have the indwelling Christ in me.
This weekend, let us not only say a prayer of thanks but one of intercession as well. Out of our thankfulness, let us ask the God who gives more abundantly than we can imagine, and let us remember those who have lost loved ones. Let us wait in great expectation, taking joy in every moment before its fulfillment, and let us reunite in community together.
Let's fight the anti-holiday.What are your plans for Black Friday? Do you ever take part in Black Friday events?
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Comments (4)
Excellent post! I participated in Black Friday last year at my daughters insistence. It was the first and last time I will ever shop on that day. I too feel the pull to shop on that day, but feel that every dollar I spend sends a message to retailers. I want retailers to get the message that holidays are for rest and family and leisure. Holiday shopping prohibits retail employees from that luxury - and retail employees are one of the lowest paid groups in our midst. So I stayed home and read and drank coffee and knitted. It was wonderfully liberating! :)
If you want an interesting experience I would encourage you to consider not shopping for a month. It too is a real eye opener in terms of our relationship with buying stuff! :)
I love to shop. I am a shopaholic. Shopping also makes me happy. :) However, I have never shopped on Black Friday, and I don't plan to. For one thing, I have no desire to stand in long lines and fight crowds, no matter how awesome the deals may be.
Secondly, like the above person mentioned, I don't want to send the wrong message to retailers. I mean, on Thanksgiving we give thanks for all we have, and then the next day we greedily spend and push and shove people just to get stuff.
I'm not saying it's wrong to shop on Black Friday; I just don't want to for myself. In my opinion, it's not worth the hassle.
@AngelAsh_86@xanga - ..... "on Thanksgiving we give thanks for all we have, and then the next day we greedily spend "..... The problem (IMHO) is that this year many large retailers opened on Thanksgiving instead of waiting until Black Friday.
@gokellyjo@xanga - Yeah, I heard about that. I know Wal-Mart had their Black Friday deals starting at 8 p.m.; not sure what other stores and retailers opened on Thanksgiving.