Thanksgiving, black Friday, and crucifixes

"I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare." -- C.S. Lewis

I have been rereading C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity over the last two weeks and have found it to be just as wonderful as the first time I read it...and a bit challenging. The theological challenges I will save for some later blog, but I will share a few timely thoughts that challenged me on a personal level.

In discussing Charity, Lewis speaks of Love as a force that drives us to meet others' needs - which is why the older English word "charity" now means giving aid to the poor almost exclusively instead of meaning love in a broader sense like it once did.

So here is my question for me (and you, since you are reading this), can I truly be thankful if I am not also charitable? Is it truly thanksgiving to say, thanks, now give me more or must there be an element of thank you Lord, for your overflowing grace and goodness, I am compelled to share some of it with those who are less fortunate. I believe the latter is what is required...

In connection with that (loosely), tomorrow is Black Friday, a day dedicated to a shopping orgy in worship of consumerism. Olivia Zaleski wrote a wonderful blog about her commitment to family over shopping this year. You can check it out here.

Also in the news is an interesting piece about crucifixes that are being made in china by under-aged women who work seven days a week for less than $.30 an hour. I have always hated the cheesy crap sold at Christian book stores next to incredibly valuable books (like the invaluable witnessing tool, the Test-a-Mint)...and have often suspected we should avoid them not just because they were trashy...but also because they were likely being produced in a country like China where human rights violations are the order of the day and by buying this stuff we were in fact violating the Scriptural mandate to stand for social justice over consumeristic value.