Kay-Bee Toys And The Meaning of Christmas

I had a most disconcerting experience at the mall yesterday. The Kay-Bee Toy Store was going out of business and thus reducing their prices dramatically. We (Linda & I) went into the store to find a robot for Joshua, my youngest son of three years. What we found in the store confirmed our dark fears about human nature. Becuse the store was going "out of business," and because the prices were so low and "evrything must go," people were acting insane. Toys were strung-out all across the floor, the shelves were dishelved, people were actually stepping on merchandise and opening boxes right in front of the store staff. It was anarchy!

I spoke to the manager of the store who was in a tearful rage. She and her staff had tried for several days to keep the store looking presentable but couldn't keep up wit the disrespect and frenzy of the people. She cried, she yelled, she couldn't believe what was happening. I could hardly believe it myself. The store looked like a hurricane had hit it the day before. The scene was not unlike the television clips we've all seen of aid organizations distributing food to hungry people in Africa. "Is this America?" I asked myself. How sad.

Linda and I talked about this event extensively. It's troubling to see how easily people can become disrespectful, unmerciful, abusive, rude, selfish, and even violent. It brought me back to the Rodney King riots in L.A. In an hours-time people can change into animals. The truth is, we are only an event away from overt anarchy in many places in our country. I don't want to believe that, but my experience in Kay-Bee Toys yesterday slapped me in the face with a reality check. Normal people walking beside you in the mall can walk into a store and become a different species. The prophet Jeremiah was right when he declared, "The heart (of man) is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: Who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9)

What I want to say to those reading this blog from cyberspace is this: GET A GRIP ON IT PEOPLE! It's Christmas time! This is a holiday to celebrate the greatest event in human history - the birth of Jesus! His birth was so important that it split BC and AD. It literally is the event that determines time. This is the entrance of salvation to mankind. He came to save us from sin and from self. If Kay-Bee Toys can teach us anything it is that we still need Jesus!

If you find yourself stressed-out this holiday and feeling more like Mr. Grench than a shepherd or a wise man, guess what? You've missed the true meaning of Christmas. It's not too late. You can fall on your knees before the manger and repent. You can glance once again and be amazed at the wonder of a little baby who was God. You can remember, and you can forget. Remember who Jesus is and why he came, and forget about the commercialism that we call "Christmas." Get it right. Go to the cross instead of kay-Bee Toys and you will be a better person because of it.