Sunday, August 29, 2010

It's Christmas (Shopping) Time Again!

Who goes Christmas shopping in August? You got it ...ME! Today I went into Jakarta and commenced my holiday shopping. I figure if I do little bits at a time, I will be less stressed as it closer for me to journey home for "the most wonderful time of the year."

My friend Mandy and I went to Pasa Raya and explored an entire floor of hand made crafts. I felt like Lewis and Clark did on their excursion across America. Every which way I turned there was a new thing to see and gawk over. Everything is so intricate and cultural. It is a definite eye opener to the different types of people and places in Indonesia.

I know that in recent decades (ha, I sound like I've been around a lot longer than 22 years) Christmas has become a time of ritzy, razzle-dazzle materialism. However I like to think of gift giving as an invitation to view an alternative snap shot of life. There is more to this world than what's right outside your neighborhood. Some people, perhaps even in my own family, may never get to experience the beauty and culture of Indonesia. Thus birthing my thought: "Why not bring a little Indonesia to them?"

Although gifts always seem to bring a little tinge of joy - we must never forget the best gift that we were given years ago: the gift of God's son, Jesus Christ. It is through Him that we are cleansed from our sins, forgiven, and redeemed. God is so awesome!

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