Tis the Season

For the past 5 months or so I have been working at Starbucks, and have learned a lot from this corporation that has dominated the coffee industry. Just recently (Nov. 9) Starbucks brought out all their seasonal drinks, cups, gifts sets and coffees. It was kinda sweet at first but then I realized their was at least SIX weeks or so until Christmas. I found myself singing the traditional holiday music, that was flooding our store, all the time. I also see how quickly it has put me in the "holiday spirits" as well as all those who come in to purchase gifts, drinks, and more gifts...what a market! To me it's ridiculous, because I too was being quickly sucked into this shopping abyss. BUT! I was fortunate enough to encounter one customer who came in with her kids to purchase one of our largest holiday drinks. I could tell by the way they were dressed that this was a rare occurrence. As her kids were goofing off behind her, she was struggling to find the money to pay for a drink we had just made for her. All she had was a dollar, and at Starbucks that doesn't even cover a tip (we blow our nose with such petty cash). So I poured the drink out in front of her and told her "too bad, so sad"- just kidding. Before things got awkward I quickly stopped her, gave back to her the dollar she had already given me and gave her the drink she couldn't pay for. I also asked my manager if it was okay to give the lady and each of her kids a "free-drink" coupon, which she okayed (she's so whipped). It's not just Starbucks that is enticing our attention to shopping, gifts and holiday cheer so early on, but everywhere you go. Not only that, but it's all about the "holidays", what the chocolate-covered-raisin does holidays signify? Thanksgiving to me is a wonderful time to meet with friends and family, and of course to over-indulge in, hopefully, some of the finest food your taste buds have ever known (other than that the meaning is trivial). Christmas, otherwise known as "X-mas" as if it were a mutant holiday, is a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus. Gifts, dinner, and joy are just a result of such celebration, but should not be the reason we celebrate. It's frustrating to me to see such a significant holiday as Christmas (the birth of Jesus Christ) being turned into a day when we celebrate gifts, dinners, and holiday trees. Just another way to fill the void in our ever so empty souls. I wish it were different. I wish our nation wasn't trying to universalize the day to incorprate all peoples. Let those who believe rejoice in this season, and those who don't believe be wondering why others do. I am a procrastinator, and from the looks of things deeply opinionated. Maybe it is because I love my God, my Savior, and my Hope. For He has made meaning of this life, and opened up my stubborn heart to a much more real universe.