Excerpt from Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

"Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved."

Reflection by Christina Villa

Today is Black Friday, the American holiday on which we honor and celebrate…shopping. By this evening, we can look forward to the official start of the holiday season with news reports of people being trampled at Wal-Mart.

Here's what I suggest: just say no. Spare yourself, restore your soul, and stay out of stores today.

Here are some things you could do instead:

• Sunday is the first day of Advent. Make an Advent wreath. Or a homemade Christmas wreath. Instructions here.   
• Detangle the Christmas lights while watching "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."
• Put together your holiday playlist. Consider including this.
• Reverse shop.  Fill a garbage bag with stuff from your house to donate. Drop it off at the Salvation Army today.
• Fast until sunset. Then make yourself an enormous turkey sandwich, with everything.

My mother, who was not big on Christmas OR shopping, used to refer to the hordes of holiday shoppers as "lemmings" unquestioningly running out to buy things because the advertisements told them to.  "Poor Jesus," she used to reflect.

Would Jesus want you to go shopping today?  I can't say. But I kind of doubt it.

Prayer

Restore us, O God, that we may be saved for the truly good things you provide.  Amen.

About the Author Christina Villa is on the staff of the United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio.

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