Volunteer Reflections
Reflection - by John
"Simplicity is finding the right gift for everyone on your list wrapped and shipped for free."
Philips Sense and Simplicity
That's right, sense and simplicity. Its seems at least to me as the holiday season approaches this sums up the cultural belief, a void, which can be filled simply by accumulating electronics or other material possessions, while pushing away the importance of human relationships to particularly the Christmas season.
We all love giving gifts, almost as much as we love receiving them. For many of us this has always been a big part of the season. Understandably so, it is what we are socialized to believe from the cradle to the grave.
The Diocesan Service Corps focuses on the concepts of right relationships, which is represented throughout the credo of this program, in Simplicity, Community, Social Justice, and Spirituality. I feel that the concept of right relationships is the most counter cultural, most valuable part of this program at this point in time.
This concept is being most vividly represented on the changing of my own views concerning Christmas. I had always been caught up in the "giving- receiving spirit of Christmas" not so much considering the importance of relationships during this season. These relationships are more than meet the eye. They range from relationships with family, friends, your community (in both the bigger sense, and the program sense, even though in the program sense these people become more family/friends,) and your relationship with God, and Jesus.
I find what I am most anticipating is the ability to go home and see my Mother, Father, my two sisters, and my grandparents, and Aunt, more than I find myself wondering what gifts I could possibly receive, nor am I worrying about what gifts I am going to be giving to my family, because that really isn't what matters. It's all about presence not presents. It's more about giving of yourself whole-heartedly, instead of gifting in the form of material possessions. (Disclaimer! if you are in a relationship you don't want to flake on a Christmas gift because this rant sounds logical.)
So everyone out there in Internet land just give it a thinking over. I am in no way advocating skipping out on showing family, friends, and significant others your love, but think thoughtful gifts. The Wii, Playstation 3, and all of the other fads are nice, but if we are to truly consider Christmas to be about the Birth of Christ, let us look at his preaching. Go ahead and feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give attention to the lonely of our word, visit the imprisoned, and if you are anything like me, you will experience more joy from that experience, than any other gift you can give, or receive.
-John