For those of you who are wondering, I was likely to recommend supporting groups that worked for charity or justice, preferably by sending money. For those who needed gifts to wrap, I was likely to recommend organizations that sold items created by local crafters or non-chain stores that need our business.
This year, I have no idea what we might be thinking about Black Friday. Will people shop? Many of us never take a holiday from shopping, after all. Will we see deals that attempt to lure us back into stores or to part with our hard-earned cash?
This year, I've been wondering if I was too judgmental in the past. Why did I feel that I needed to make pronouncements on people's gift giving or spending or hobbies (shopping as hobby) or annual traditions?
And yet, I also know that our behavior does have a larger global impact. If I buy cheap junk from China, am I complicit in harmful labor practices? In many ways, yes. If I abstain, will the world change? Probably not if I'm the only one who abstains. If more of us abstain, maybe the world will change.
I think back to high school, when I was a lonely vegetarian. Now we recognize the health benefits, and vegetarians have many more options in terms of available food. But have farming systems changed so that animals are treated more ethically? In some ways, yes. In more essential ways, no.
This year, which has been a year that has taken so much from so many of us, this year I say to celebrate Black Friday in whatever ways will bring you joy if you can do them in ways that you can stay safe. I believe that God calls us to a life of more joy, not less joy. If observing Black Friday by shopping brings you joy, then enjoy the joy!
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