Seasons of Love
It's Christmas and I find myself being a scrooge. I am so unbelievably annoyed at the waste, the un-concern, and the waste that we as americans are doing! I have always found the holiday season, exciting, enchanting, with a bit of magic to boot.... but it is all gone.
My father, step mother, and step sister and brother and I are planning on visiting a needy family tommorrow... our family wants to donate something to them. We had a family meeting to decide what we were going to do, and figure out the amount of money to spend...... yet, paying money for something is too expensive, they don't want to give money... they are going through their closets instead of buying new...... I am angered, not at the charity... but at their futile attempts to clean their conscious on their garbage and junk! Reuse and reduce waste, YES! but, don't give a low rate present to make your concious happy! They realize that we are going to be providing all of this familys christmas, so they splurged on a $50 Wal-Mart card, so they could buy this family's 4 kids a present????? and when I suggested we do something nice like make a dinner for them... I was scolded becuase I was making extra work, although I was ready to cook..... Even the christmas tree my father is finding has to be cheap, he doesn't want to pay $25 dollars... is that much to ask to extend a warm and gracious welcome? Is this charity on the cheap, and on the drive through?
My family is privilidged (one runs their own business and the other works for Cornell Univeristy)... I as a poor college student am rich in comparison to most of this world, and I have the privilidge of being in the world's upper crust! Why, then can my family not extend the same generosity to someone that is struggling at the time that is called Season of Love.
I am listening to Rent's opening song, Seasons of Love, and they sing about how to measure a life..... I think we must measure our life in how many gestures we give to others, especially those who cannot give back to our own selves! Isn't that the point of the season? Didn't Jesus give himself for us? Now anyone who knows me, knows I am not religious, so the fact that I broke out our lord, the saviour, is a very big step! But, I am repulsed at the actions of our fellow man at this time of year..... Charity for self indulgence, not charity for the needy...
I give of myself to organizations in time, and donate money to numerous cuases that I feel strongly about... I probably donate 20% of my low income. Am I in the absolute minority? Why do other's feel less generous? I am not a modern day, male mother Teressa.... but what if we all gave a little more? what if we gave of body, mind, and self to a special cause? Wouldn't our world be a better place, a prettier place, a happier place? Wouldn't we then live in Seasons of Love four times a year?
My father, step mother, and step sister and brother and I are planning on visiting a needy family tommorrow... our family wants to donate something to them. We had a family meeting to decide what we were going to do, and figure out the amount of money to spend...... yet, paying money for something is too expensive, they don't want to give money... they are going through their closets instead of buying new...... I am angered, not at the charity... but at their futile attempts to clean their conscious on their garbage and junk! Reuse and reduce waste, YES! but, don't give a low rate present to make your concious happy! They realize that we are going to be providing all of this familys christmas, so they splurged on a $50 Wal-Mart card, so they could buy this family's 4 kids a present????? and when I suggested we do something nice like make a dinner for them... I was scolded becuase I was making extra work, although I was ready to cook..... Even the christmas tree my father is finding has to be cheap, he doesn't want to pay $25 dollars... is that much to ask to extend a warm and gracious welcome? Is this charity on the cheap, and on the drive through?
My family is privilidged (one runs their own business and the other works for Cornell Univeristy)... I as a poor college student am rich in comparison to most of this world, and I have the privilidge of being in the world's upper crust! Why, then can my family not extend the same generosity to someone that is struggling at the time that is called Season of Love.
I am listening to Rent's opening song, Seasons of Love, and they sing about how to measure a life..... I think we must measure our life in how many gestures we give to others, especially those who cannot give back to our own selves! Isn't that the point of the season? Didn't Jesus give himself for us? Now anyone who knows me, knows I am not religious, so the fact that I broke out our lord, the saviour, is a very big step! But, I am repulsed at the actions of our fellow man at this time of year..... Charity for self indulgence, not charity for the needy...
I give of myself to organizations in time, and donate money to numerous cuases that I feel strongly about... I probably donate 20% of my low income. Am I in the absolute minority? Why do other's feel less generous? I am not a modern day, male mother Teressa.... but what if we all gave a little more? what if we gave of body, mind, and self to a special cause? Wouldn't our world be a better place, a prettier place, a happier place? Wouldn't we then live in Seasons of Love four times a year?