Buy (almost) Nothing Day

In the last couple of years I have been trying to resist the urge to buy stuff on the day after Thanksgiving. Mostly because I hate traffic (especially in the very poorly designed shopping areas of the Quad Cities) and don’t like to wait in line, but also because it is kind of sickening how much we are addicted to ‘stuff’ in this country. I really am not a fan of Christmas shopping altogether.

Actually, some anti-consumerist groups have started a day called ‘Buy Nothing Day,’ which (not so coincidentally) happens to fall on the day after Thanksgiving:

http://www.adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/

Although I was unable to completely buy nothing, --I bought a cup of coffee from a local coffee shop, a pound of fair trade coffee, some brown sugar and some organic yogurt from a local health food store, and a cheeseburger and blizzard from Dairy Queen (I know that one doesn’t really fit with the rest)--I think I did alright for the biggest shopping day of the year. Know also that I did manage to resist $9.00 512MB USB thumb-drives.

It was nice day of drinking coffee, reading, going to Festival of Trees and helping decorate the church.

Let’s remember, this year, what Christmas is really about.

Mike

Down Times

Ok, so I was all excited about this blog thing when I started it. It seems so simple to just write some thoughts each day.

Lately, I have been kind of down lately. I am burned out from serving too much and don't fit in at the church I go to. I need a vacation at work. My spiritual life is just surviving, it seems. It is also very hard to find people who are craving fellowship and friends to hang out in the Quad cities.

So yeah, I haven't had much to write about, except complaining--so I haven't written much.

There are some good things going on. I am blessed with a wonderful girlfriend, Cari, and 1-2 other friends.

I still can't help but wish to move away from this place--maybe God is really calling me to move out of my comfort zone and find a new place where I fit. However, I also sure I am not the only one struggling in town, at church and at work and wonder if I am here to change things rather than run away.

That's where I am right now and lunch is almost over so I have to get back to work...

Maybe there will be some more upbeat posts in the near future.

Mike