The Advent Conspiracy

For many Western Christians this past Sunday marked the beginning of the season of Advent ~ the four weeks before Christmas, originally intended to be a time of spiritual reflection and preparation before celebrating the nativity of Jesus. 

In recent years, those same four weeks have become a peak shopping period for retailers known as "the Christmas shopping season." For those of us engaged in caregiving, or in the midst of mourning the loss of a loved one, these four weeks can seem like little more than an additional and overwhelming burden. 

Given the state of the world and our struggling economy here at home, many more people may be looking for a different way to get ready for Christmas.
     

If you find yourself wishing to spend less and give more presence during the holiday season, you'll be happy to know that a movement is challenging the idea that consumerism brings happiness ~ and fosters the hope that the spirit of Christmas still can change the world for the better.

To learn more, visit Advent Conspiracy.

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Related Articles:

• A Tale of Two Fridays, by Matt Litton
• The Holiday Blues, by Josette Veltri
• Advent Is About Desire, by Rev. James Martin, SJ
• The Meaningful Gifts Series, on Business Theology Blog
• Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Gratitude and (of All Things) Politics, by Roger S. Gottlieb 

© by Marty Tousley, RN, MS, FT, DCC

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