From the song Christmas Shoes, which I'm sure you've heard (and R. hates):
Sir, I want to buy these shoes
for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about
Soooooo.... extending this all the way out... God gave a little boy's mom a fatal, horrible disease so that he could teach this poor schlub "what Christmas is all about?" Here's an idea: How about, occasionally, you do a little self reflection and figure it out on your own so that no one needs get cancer for you to "remember" what Christmas is all about.
Now, I know the retort will be that either A) I'm overthinking this, or B) the kid's mom had cancer anyway, and God merely sent the boy to remind the guy, no one was the worse off, so no harm no foul.
As to A: I think its pretty hard to overthink the important metaphysical questions of life and our existance, their impact on our lives and actions, and what that means for our future conduct and morals. If thinking too long and hard about morals and how to live life is wrong, well, count me as guilty, I guess. I've done worse, and probably will in the future, and its a guilt I'll willingly take. And recommend to others.
As to B: I guess its possible the boy's mom was sick anyway and not made sick specifically to teach this guy a lesson. As I said, the result is really "no harm, no foul," under that formulation. As to the lesson, the shopkeeper surely seems to have missed the point since he didn't put in his own money or just put the item on "sale." So, we have to assume I guess that God was spending his time specifically lining up these events to teach this solitary man a lesson. I think its more likely the guy did a bit of self-searching in those moments, but whatever. It seems pretty selfish to think God directed this disease-striken mom's kid to the mall to teach this guy a lesson. I have no problem with Objective selfishness, but for a group of people repulsed by the idea of selfishness, its an odd formulation.
I'm just saying.
More News of the Odd coming later this week.
Coincidentally today is the night I go hang out with my Christian friends at a youth group where we discuss Christian books.
ReplyDeleteThey would probably agree with you, or else argue that the guy should probably be thankful that he got the reminder, not thankful for the reminder being sent (there's a difference, at least in my brain).
maybe what we don't know is that the boy's mother doesn't really exist and the boy is a creation of god that will only live for that one moment to remind the man what Christmas is all about (which it seems, is giving shoes to people).
I'd argue more about the fact that "Heaven's love" is being equated to something so mundane and human when it is (supposedly) much bigger and better. Also, what part is Heaven's love? The boy's mother dying? The boy wanting his mother to be pretty for Jesus? The boy being thankful for a pair of shoes?
"to remind the man what Christmas is all about (which it seems, is giving shoes to people)." LOL.
ReplyDeleteEverything you said is so true and some of it damn funny.
As to the "unreal" boy. I can't buy that. God would have to have teh boy lie about his sick mom. Its a little white lie, but that seems wrong and out of character regardless. Maybe its ture in an "alternate universe" sort of way?
The Heavens love stuff is spot on. Ok, I get it that we should love our fellow man, but you're right - heaven's love is supposed to be something more than that.
I think Heavens love in the song is really the guy helping out his fellow man. You kind of have to ignore that the kid apparently misses the point as well (he's pretty consumerist and yes, he's a kid, but he's pretty niaeve about the concept of what Jesus is about if he thinks shoes are it). He said thanks, but I'm not sure we have any actual evidence he was thankful.
The whole song kinda falls apart on actual inspection. The reality is that the guy is happy with himself for helping this kid out, but rather than acknowledge that, he places the accolades at God's feet. Even accepting the existance of God, I don't think he would have done this.
Finally - the boy is described as dirty & tattered. What the heck is he doing in the mall alone? And why is he so dirty and tattered? My guess: he's a street beggar who just ripped this guy off.
I'll have a post later today about perceptions and the danger of thinking you have some special knowledge or expertise over everyone else, but I think this song mostly just shows how unselfaware some people are.
One more quick tidbit. This sorta "emotional plea" only view the subject from the most specific angle thing happens all the time. The boy's mom is sick and that's sad and the guy bought shoes for him so it must be all good and the grace of God.
ReplyDeleteAnd that passes for analysis without any consideration of the illness factor or what exact message the guy thinks he got.
A really good quote I heard once: God & the devil are teh same, God just has a great PR agent, because every good thing is attributed to him and every bad one is attributed to the Devil.