Thoughts on Black Friday

Is it worth the few dollars difference to become a thief or maybe even a killer to purchase the item on Black Friday? You and I both know that a year from now that item will be worn out, out of style, something bigger and better will replace it and it won’t even be wanted anymore. The item that you gave up all your human dignity to buy or maybe even steal will be in the trash. Was it worth it for that few minutes of gloating and boasting to your neighbor over your Black Friday shopping spree, to give a gift that won’t even be appreciated for more than a few minutes, days or months? Even at rock bottom sale price, the price was still way to high.

What motivates humanity to descend to such low levels of savagery? Have we lost all sense of integrity and human dignity?

This thought reminded me of an announcement our store manager used to make after his usual speech on Black Friday about keeping our eyes open and watching our backs, announcing the rescheduling of breaks, food and treats for all the help that were working that day and thanking us for putting in the extra horrendous hours. He would then say, “Okay Folks, everyone brace up and man your stations. I’m on my way to the front to release the wild animals.” He’d unlock the door and the rabid attitudes and actions of these normally reasonable humans would surge in like a flood in hurricane season. I have been spat on, shoved, pushed, slapped and screamed at by customers who on any other day seem reasonably sane, but not on Black Friday. It is insanity and you have to stop and wonder what Christmas in the modern world has become. I always dreaded Black Friday and then and now I refuse to shop on that day.

This is not what Christmas is all about and has nothing to do with why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Christmas is a celebration of love, the gift of love and life, sent to Earth by God in the form of Jesus, the Christ who was born of God and man; lived died and conquered death, sin and shame to live again bringing hope and salvation to mankind. Jesus came as a Light to the entire world. Black Friday is a good name for this shopping day directly following our American Thanksgiving Day for there is no Light in it.