Well, we're officially the most behind *cino bloggers. For that reason, I (Kirstin) am going to take over Rob's usual responsibility and write something.
We're in the middle of "Christmas Around Town," an annual activity on the Sunday after Thanksgiving involving carriage rides, Santa visits, caroling, and about three-and-a-half tons of sweet, delicious treats, all being distritbuted for free to people who have retreated from the chain store frenzy to the sanity and community of down-home downtown shopping. It's going great. At one point, we had over forty people in our little shop for a little friendly fair trade chaos.
I watched bits of the TV news the other morning and was amazed at the insanity of Christmas shopping--people lining up outside of Wal-Mart at 3 a.m., a woman getting trampled in the process of procuring a super-cheap DVD player. It's amazing the things we put ourselves through to obtain the perfect gift at the best price, simultaneously self-centered and self-sacrificial. We are constantly vigilant, full of anticipation--I suppose that as creatures made in the image of God, we can't help being overcome by the spirit of Advent, even if our response is misguided.
One of our suppliers sent a letter with a quote from theologian Howard Thurman that captures a part of what we're trying to teach through World Fare: "When the star in the sky is gone and the shepherds are back with their flocks, the REAL work of Christmas begins--feeding the hungry, healing the broken, and bringing peace to the people." I hope that our presence here inspires people to expand their vision of their role in the world. We are about affirming the worth, dignity and calling of all God's creatures, rich, poor and in between.
A quiet moment--I should go brew another pot of fair trade coffee. But one more thing: for those who have asked about buying products from World Fare online, we are hoping to have an online store functioning soon, albeit not in time for Christmas. You can request a mail order catalog from SERRV (one of our suppliers)--but watch for developments at www.worldfare.org!
