Christmas Bait and Switch

I fall for it all the time.  'Tis the season of "Every kiss begins with Kay" and the Coca Cola polar bears.  Things are glittering and sparkly.  The air is full of magic, romance and music.  People ask me what I want for Christmas and all of a sudden I'm lulled into a sweet, dreamy stupor.  Sugar plum fairies and navy pea coats are dancing in my head, along with things like these...

Mmmm.  They whisper sultry sweet nothings in my ear.

HOLD IT.  Hold it RIIIIIIIIGHT there.  Good try, trendy cool stuff.  Good try.  You say you're important, that you bring hope of a better wardrobe, peace in attempts to climb the social status ladder, and light shining down from heaven and reflecting off those fabulous bronzy sequins.  

I have a funny feeling those angels in the fields weren't talking about Tom's and Matt Wertz when they were talking about "good tidings of great joy".  I think they were talking more about the Light of the World making a crash landing into the darkness of a Christmas night in Bethlehem to change the way we live and love.  All that glittery stuff and the ads that sell it would have you believe that if you buy, consume, follow these things, you will be fulfilled.  You will be beautiful and loved and successful.  They march with billboards flying, leaving in their wake a people who are unfulfilled, spiritually impoverished and looking for the beauty they were promised.  It's a bait and switch.  Instead of fulfilling you, they leave you empty.  

Their intent is not to make you empty.  That's just part of the result.  The distraction is integral to the deception.  If you're out chasing the latest and greatest, you'll be too busy to think, to reason, to change the world.  The iPad 4 is a sufficient substitute for courage and discipline.  The newest Gibson guitar will make up for perseverance and self-sacrifice.  If you'll only settle for devouring and consuming, you'll never be a threat by fulfilling your calling to create, be light, speak truth and make disciples.  

May your days be merry and bright,

Little Miss Sunshine