So this is a "Black Friday" Five (aka Buy Nothing Day) in honor of the busiest shopping day of the year:

1. Would you ever/have you ever stood in line for something--tickets, good deals on electronics, Tickle Me Elmo?
..... Not likely!

2. Do you enjoy shopping as a recreational activity?
..... Yes, but not all the time. I like to have something to get, or at least something in mind. I may not buy anything, but tuck it in my mind for later.

3. Your favorite place to browse without necessarily buying anything.
..... A Mall, but the store would be a department store.

4. Gift cards: handy gifts for the loved one who has everything, or cold impersonal symbol of all that is wrong in our culture?
..... It is hard to say, since I've been the recipient of them at times and find myself very grateful. They are handed, or mailed from far away. I try to get something, or put it toward something, I have need of. Mainly clothes, or perhaps something for the apartment.

5. Discuss the spiritual and theological issues inherent in people coming to blows over a Playstation 3.
..... Lack of self-discipline first and foremost. Greed follows that often..whether for power, or for possessing powers. We have lost the idea that people are more important than things. Owning something doesn't make anyone better, or worse, unless used to hurt, or demean others. A playstation of any kind except for learning, well let's face it, everything teaches us some sort of thing, good, or evil.

I'd like to see children outside playing with other kids and learning to get along with each other and building self-esteem as well. Being 'locked into' computers, or TV is not the real world if one wishes to become more than this world offers. Jesus did not have a computer, or a playstation, but I can't see him wanting to shut himself down to sit and play for hours...he'd get out and do the things necessary to change this world and make it a better place. Here and now! He did that over 2000 years ago and his living still rings down the eons.

Balance is a key thing in life to have a good one and a healthy one. Jesus taught, then went off regularly to pray, think, and wonder how to get God's messages across in his day...then he went out again to serve. He also partied and went to weddings and enjoyed life as well as his ministry. It would be hard for Jesus to do it all without balance. Often, people did not 'get' his message, but when they did they were faithful to it. ..as we try to be also.

We all know what happens when our own lives get out of balance....don't we?

Fighting over anything is a problem in the making. We need to learn new ways of being with others of all ages and genders. We are all God's children and even so, are quite capable of being little "Hitler's", or "Husseins", as well as being Mother Teresa's, or Ghandi's. We have choices to make at every moment.

I am wondering why we use Santa Claus as a 'weapon' of sorts to get children to "behave". Kids with self assurance and love usually don't need to be pressured into 'good' ways of behaving. We use toys the same way ... isn't this bribery? And not very helpful for later in life.

May we yet again, not learn, or honour,
preying on each other,
but walking together in peacefulness,
forgiveness and love.


May the Christ Child become less homeless
in our world and
within our hearts.