It's been a week since Thanksgiving, almost a week since our latest "Black Friday"-- that day of the year that kicks off the Christmas shopping season. It was truly a black day for the family of the man in New York who was trampled to death by shoppers forcing their way into a Wal-Mart, and for those injured in the same melee.  Over the years a greater and greater emphasis has been placed on Black Friday as the harbringer of good news or bad news for Christmas retail spending; and for the entire Christmas season as the savior of the retail sales total for the year.  This year, with the economy down and overall spending down retailers promised deep discounts on for shoppers who came early; and it was preseumably these deep discounts-- and perhaps fear that they would miss out on a "deal"-- that caused some shoppers to trample another human being, and some to step over his body as he lay there dying. 

Now, I'll be the first to admit, I love Christmas, and I love giving and getting Christmas presents; but when I read about situations such as this, it really puts me off of the whole deal.  To think that there is so much pressure on folks to buy expensive gifts for family and friends really flies in the face of even what Saint Nicholas was trying to achieve.  To think that retailers play on our desire to please our loved ones by buying them things-- in order to increase their bottom line, their stock price, and their stockholders dividends-- really brings out the cynic in me. 

I'm not going to call for a boycott of shopping and giving gifts this year.  But I would like to remind us all to be mindful of what we do, what we buy and what we spend this year.  Don't be pressured to spend money you don't have just to give someone a "thing"; find creative ways to give gifts that will be longer lasting and make for happier times.  Give loved ones the gift of your time, your love, your peace.  Forgive an old wound, or ask forgiveness from someone you've wronged.  Use the time you'd spend shopping to bake some cookies and then give them all away.  Hold a potluck dinner (or covered dish or whatever you call it in your area) in your neighborhood and build relationships with your neighbors.  Sit down with your parent or grandparent or teenager and ask them the meaning of life, and then really listen to what they have to say.  It is the season for love, and there are so many other ways to show love than through buying things for people.  Ways that are cost less in $$$ but will mean so much more than yo

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