When I was growing up, my mom taught us to “count to ten” before responding when we were upset about something and wanted to react. So here goes… 1…2…3…4…
Sorry, I can’t make it. I’m watching media blow up today over people being upset about Starbucks’ decision to minimalize the design on the holiday themed coffee cups this season. (See #merrychristmasstarbucks. Or better yet, if you don’t know what I’m referring to, stop reading now and just go about your day. You will be better off.) Somehow people who are obviously way too easily offended are adding this to the whole “war on Christmas” conversation.
Please stop.
First of all, we may need a reality check on what a “war” actually is. Secondly, we are immersed daily in the realities and madness of bodies of refugee children washing up on beaches, rampant racism, school shootings, violence against women, etc. As an organization, we have brought a survivor of child trafficking and exploitation into our care this past year who was only two years old.
We work really hard every day in an attempt to get people to care. And many people do. And they do deeply. But not as many who seem to passionately care about the design on their coffee cups. And in all honesty, it is incredibly frustrating. We are constantly trying to figure out ways to engage people – to get more people to care. And then we see something like this that people rally around?
Imagine if people cared as much about the oppressed, marginalized, and forgotten as they do about their coffee cups.
What kind of radical change could be brought about in the world? Maybe it’s just easier to care about cups than it is to care about people – no real sacrifice required.
At the end of every day before I go to bed, I ask myself two questions: “Did I love well today?” and “Was I about the things that matter?” Some nights I am at a loss realizing I spent much of my day, time, and energy about things that don’t really matter. And I make the commitment to try harder tomorrow.
I don’t think any of us want to get to the end of our lives and look back and say, “I cared more about coffee cups than I did about people.” God help us.
I probably should have counted to ten.
