I am writing my entry at Paneral today.  Sometimes I like to get out of my office and into the world around me when I am writing or planning the worship and my sermon for the week.  I like to imagine the lives of the people sitting around me.   Perhaps it would be even better if I were somehow able to break through my own introverted ways and actually talk to some of them, but I'm hoping that will come someday!

It isn't quite close enough to Christmas yet for the holiday spirit to have really kicked in-- at least here.  Now, in the stores, Christmas is in full swing and has been for several weeks.  But here at Panera the holiday decorations are subtle-- deep red banners with pinecone images on them, which are largely there to advertise the seasonal sandwich and soup.  One side does say "give, recieve, rejoice"; but that's really the extent of the holiday message.  I have to admire Panera for not trying to be more than it is during the Christmas season! 

I have seen too many ads this year from desperate retailers trying to lure people into their stores by playing on their emotions or sentimentality. The one that annoys me the most is the one that suggests people should not just give a gift, but fulfill a dream.  Talk about pressure!  Is it no longer adequate to think it's the thought behind the gift that counts?  Must we now make ourselves responsible for fulfilling the dreams of everyone on our list?  I mean, face it: trying to fulfill someone's dreams through a Christmas gift is really setting yourself up for disappointment. 

Ok, so I must sound like the Christmas curmudgeon.  And I'm not at all against giving and receiving gifts.  I enjoy finding something for my loved ones that will make their faces light up with happiness and/ or surprise.  Last year I got my husband the perfect gift-- for him-- a travel electronic chess set.  It may be the best gift I've ever given him in 23 years of being married (or in the top 5, anyway.)  Did it fulfill his dreams?  Or help him make his dreams come true in any way?  Not really.  But it has given him some enjoyment and happiness over this past year--and that's enough for both of us. 

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