For many weeks now, as I have sat in Church there has been a butterfly persistently trying to escape through the glass window. The delicate creatures frittering and fluttering is so vigorous it can often be heard over whoever is preaching. I can only imagine it lives everyday like this, repeatedly banging it's tiny head against a window, risking damaging it's fragile body in a desperate attempt to reach the world it really desires whilst this invisible barricade stands in it's way. How it has lived so long I do not know, I can only assume it feeds of the flowers and has some exceptional will power to reach the other side of the glass. Still I expect as the weather cools, it will eventually cease to be there one Sunday morning.
We all stand on a precipice between the worlds we long to live in and the one we actually live in. For some of us we dream of many different scenarios, for example the peaceful equal world which morally we should want and the world we really want where we own and have everything we could possibly want. For the few true saints that walk among us those two worlds merge and more often than not they are the living example of what they desire.
For the rest of us life is not so simple. Most of us live in an entirely comfortable situation, it is hard to sacrifice what makes us feel safe. We know that in reality we have more than we possibly need, yet we desire more and have the capability usually to get it. As we move towards Advent most of the country starts preparing for Christmas. I read in one paper yesterday about how we are in the 49 hours of preparation for the Christmas party look (new clothes, hair and make up). In the same paper was a statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury about how we should step away from materialism and give "LOVE" for Christmas. As a nation we apparently spent an average of £1,000 on Christmas last year. We put so much pressure on ourselves to produce a perfect event, that very often that is the very reason we do not. Many years ago now, I stepped out of the rat race. Preferring to give where I can homemade gifts and cards. I also stopped competing when it came to kids parties, we have for sometime now had a couple of friends, a film and pizza. By taking out the pressure we all have a bigger gift of "LOVE". Those who are there, want to be and it is a happy place. By giving homemade presents, you may not have spent big money but you have spent your time and in turn giving that "LOVE" again. My children love mucking in at the end of every term to make something for their teachers, it shows they are genuinely grateful for all the teachers time and effort by giving the same back in return. And truly when we already have it all, do we really need more of the big things?
I confess though that I am not immune to consumerism, I love pretty items and lovely clothes. I walk into shops and want everything in front of me, just like everyone else. However though I am still prone to window shopping, I try to buy second hand in the main. This final move happened after my Barefoot walk last Lent. Not only do I then end up with the pretty things I want, when I need them, but by going to a Charity shop I am giving something back to someone else that needs it and lowering my impact on the environment. The children to, love rifling through Charity shops. Though it has to be said, when it comes to Christmas they do get some new presents, but not the hundreds of pounds worth other parents seem to buy. But if I can get what they have asked for second hand, they never complain and don't really seem to notice. Life is simpler this way. I have long since given up on the desire to try and compete and as such I am more relaxed. As for spending 49 hours deciding what to wear for the Christmas do, I do not own make up, my hair can come out of it's hairband and I have a dress already. There are better things to spend my time on, so I am off to make some more chutney. But remember as you turn your thoughts towards Advent and then Christmas, that Advent is not about counting days with chocolates so you can receive even more stuff for yourself. It is a time for looking at yourself and what you can do in order to make yourself worthy of that gift as it comes down from heaven. The greatest gift anyone can ever receive, came down to the humblest of houses and the humblest of parents. Peace, Love and Joy can not be found in acquisitions, but they can be found in each other.
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