Monday, October 24, 2011

Taking That Christmas T-Shirts Spirit Into The Rest Of The Year

By Paul Mills


I hate to say this, but the world has become an immoral place. I remember that not too long ago, people still lived modest lifestyles and treated one another with respect. It's not so much to ask that we go back to these simpler, happier days. As this Holiday season draws closer, I plan to really do my best to change the attitudes of those around me. I want people to remember what it was like when we were all much younger, and when the Holidays held more significance than just a huge day for shopping and material wealth. I plan on using a quiet form of protest by wearing Christmas t-shirts that have a holy significance. People really need to be reminded of what we're celebrating.

The commercialization of society had been a very gradual thing, and it is directly tied to how "plugged in" we are now. It seems that if people aren't listening to music on their iPods, they're watching videos on their phone, surfing the web, or watching television. All we seem to talk about are the things we've seen, which means other people's ideas instead of our own. Those ideas that we're being fed are to consume, consume, and to consume. We're taught by our machines that we need better machines all the time. Now we've gotten greedy and full of avarice. If there is any time of the year to change that, it should be during Christmas...and I hope my Christmas t-shirts will make that happen.

There is so much hate in the world, and people carry that hate well into the Holiday season. My own family is guilty of bringing hate into a time that should be full of joy. Every year, a fight breaks out at my house and feelings are hurt. We should all be lifting each other up and shining a light into one another's heart instead of bringing such darkness to one another. There are stories of soldiers during World War I who ceased hostilities, came out of their trenches, and celebrated Christmas together for just one night. I hope the Christmas t-shirts I wear will inspire people to love instead of hate.

When I tell people that I believe that the Holidays are about sacrifice, I always get a puzzled look. How can Christmas be about sacrifice when all we do is wait anxiously for the presents we're to be given. Well, that's not the way it's supposed to be. If everyone were more worried about how happy others are before worrying about their own happiness, then guess what would happen? Everyone would be way happier than if they were trying on their own. God sacrificed so much for us out of his love, and we cannot spare two hours a week to do charity work? I hope my Christmas t-shirts reminds everyone what selflessness is really like.

If I could just use these Christmas t-shirts to help one person start caring again. Perhaps next year that person can help another, and then another, and so on...all while I continue my own work. In just a few years, the spirit of Christmas may have spread to a hundred people who will spend the rest of their lives helping others before helping themselves. Perhaps a time will come when those people will even carry that care beyond the Christmas season, and the world will be better for it. All I can do is hope for a change...and to keep working to make that change happen.




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