“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
It’s Black Friday! The advertisements have hit the airwaves, social media and, while archaic by today’s standards, our mailboxes. Time to buy — buy more save more. Cash in the savings, up your credit balance and get busy shopping. That’s what Black Friday is about. Save those retailers from being in the red. Right?
Now admittedly is has been a horrific year for brick and mortar retail. With mandatory shut downs, we see hundreds of stores now permanently closed. Pier One, Stein Mart, Stage Stores gone. Many others, including J.C. Penny, still struggling. On line retailers are faring much better — if they can maintain customer fulfillment. Black Friday has lost its normal call to arms and is this year a call to patch the holes in the dam to stop the flood of further disaster.
Black Friday has also historically been labeled the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. All of us know this has been eroded with the big box merchants setting up their displays as soon as the smoke from the fourth of July fireworks cleared away. Stores, now open, started their Black Friday sales as early as October.
Will you be joining in the mad rush of shoppers? You could be like me, I haven’t been enlightened on the matter. (Joke) The predictions say it will be a big shopping season as we are all wanting to reward ourselves for the suffering we have endured during the lockdowns. Probably a lot of truth in that thought
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As you join in via whatever manner you chose, remember that this is all temporal. Dad’s new Jeep (well, in his dreams — you know like sugar plums), Mom’s new baubles, brother’s new game console and sister’s endless list of books. All nice gifts, all given in love, and all temporal. When you are filling out your shopping lists, heading toward the mall or firing up you computer to hit the virtual mall, think about adding an eternal gift to your list, give the Jesus whose step from Heaven to Earth is the day we are celebrating .
“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)
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