Gift-Giving vs. Consumerism

Jason Evans has some wise words about gift giving vs. consumerism...

I don't think Brooke and I have it all figured out. We agree that the consumption in this country is out of control but we highly believe in gift-giving. If we imply that giving is equal to consuming than we've missed the point, and I wouldn't have much left to base my faith on, for sure. Think about it, the Story of our gift of life comes through a God using his own breath to breath life into a man made from dirt and woman with parts borrowed from the man. Our story of salvation comes through a God using his own Son's death to replace ours. What amazing gifts!? So, give gifts, give them creatively, re-use, recycle and give them selflessly. That doesn't equate to consumerism...

I think he is right on. I don't have Brooke's creative abilities either but this year all of our gifts were reflection of Wendy and I. We gave out some of my favorite books this year. Some Emergence, some Ingenuity Gap (although my Dad openly hated his copy), some Kicking Ass in Canadian Politics. The comments that get angry at people for consuming don't make any sense to me at all. We all consume. Even as I post this I am consuming electricity and bandwidth from hundreds of computers, routers and servers along the net. The challenge is to be a responsible consumer. That I think we can do a better job at.that.

I don't think the issue is consumption as it is mindless consumption because I can consume. A bunch of boomers I know are at the point of their life when they are making far more money than they know what to do with so they are spending this insane amount of money I think because they are bored so they look for the next project. A new house, a cabin at the lake, newer and more expensive cars, great trips and I wonder when it stops. A couple of months ago I posted on my site that I had no idea what I was going to get my Dad, he has no known hobbies or passions other than work. A couple of years ago it was a new PT Cruiser, last Christmas his wife got him a Dodge Viper, for his birthday it was a trip to ride in the pace car at the Molson Indy in Vancouver. The odd thing is that while he likes it, none seem to evoke that much passion out of him. The "stuff" doesn't seem to appeal to him any more. I wonder if on a smaller scale we are all like this. We live through this period of wonderful excess yet we are like the Emperor walking through the streets with his "invisible" robe. No one has the guts to say that this isn't working so we look for the next big gift and the next big milestone.