Dirty Snow and Baby Registries

Thanksgiving has come and gone and we finally have snow falling here in Chicago. Chicago snow does not stay beautifully white. Instead it is almost immediately covered and mixed with the sludge that mar our streets. It emanates that this world is decaying.

This season (Thanksgiving and beyond) we are to be reminded of what is right in the world. We are to open our eyes to the original "clean snow" so to speak. During Thanksgiving, we are to acknowledge how God has provided for us physically and spiritually through out the year. Christmas, as Christians, we are to be thankful for the Gift of Jesus. Many non Christian holidays this time of year run a long similar veins of thanksgiving.

This idea of reflecting on the good is a beautiful idea, but people are not naturally thankful  and celebrations can often be tainted by what is not, instead of what we have.Truthfully, the act of contentment can be made extremely difficult by current circumstances. Our lives are chaotic. People are broken. This world is dying. We are Dying.

What is more, we live in a consumerist society here in the United States.
I was in awe, when this year, our local stores brought in Thanksgiving "stuff" with the Halloween stuff, only to take it off the shelves and replace it with Christmas decorations once Halloween was over. It was as if Thanksgiving did not exist and was overshadowed by the getting of Jack's candy and Nick's gifts. Contentment was eclipsed by attaining.

Even I fell prey to Consumerism's grasp as I wrote out Christmas wish lists and deliberated over baby registries.

Baby registries! Oh my. What a snare. In my excuse to become a well educated and earth conscious mom, I wasted much time being consumed by all the STUFF stores have to offer. And although I really am trying to fight against the disease of want and to make our planet a less dirty place by being as green as possible, the balance is hard to find. When do I end the search of the most simplistic useful baby product and begin wasting my time? How do I see through the packaging and "must need" messages and discern the truth of what is needed and natural? How do I distinguish the must use from just another status symbol or dust collector. Not only do I have to sift through packaging, but all the cutesy baby blogs, and maternity-so-called-helpful websites that bombard you with emails every day once you sign up for their "handy" pregnancy tracker or their convenient registry organizer! It has become tedious and exhausting.

Thankfully (ahhh finally I am thankful), I have a husband who is very good at reminding me of the simple and natural. He often calls me out when I have spent too much time obsessing over the baby registries and reminds me of who I am when I freak out about not being able to find the "just right" birthing class. Because, even educational material can simply be "feel good" Fads and a means to your pocket book.

The word "Consumerism" has become a buzzword for us. However just because it is cliche doesn't mean it is not true. We are fighting a battle people! A battle against something that can drown out that still and silent voice called the Holy Spirit. It can prevent us from seeing the places of need a midst the world's chaos; Places and people that could use a giving hand this season. It can drown out the songs of thankfulness knocking at the door of  our heart.

How are you going to fight Consumerism this holiday season? Where are you going to go to find enough peace to listen to the Spirit's voice? Where are you going to look for the one in need? How are you going to find joy in the sorrow and begin on a path to healing? What song are you going to sing? Who are you going to look to for the gift of life; the only gift that actually has any meaning?