We have such thin skin, it seems. I mean, what happened to the age old encouragement to let it roll off one’s back? Why do we get so upset? Why do we allow the little things to make us so mad and loud?
I just read another story surrounding the supposed controversy regarding Starbucks’ version of the red Solo cup. This year — as they always alter their warm beverage cups for the upcoming holiday season — instead of producing a cup comparable to past years in which the cup includes a snowflake, starburst, or wintery something, the cup is plain red… plain red. No flourish nor other wintery motif is included.
Yet there were immediately those many who seemingly have way too much time on their hands, who began complaining that the cup was “anti-Christian.” Many feel as if the simplicity of the design is simply the next battle step in the perceived “war on Christmas,” and it’s thus, one more way in which organized religion is removed from society as opposed to balanced and respected.
Then, as if on some social media cue, many more with also seemingly way too much time on their hands, felt it necessary to begin chastising those who were complaining about the cups — finding yet another opportunity to point out the speck in another’s eye as opposed to wrestling with the log in their own.
What is it? Why do people get so upset on both of the supposed stinkin’ sides? Why are they even creating “sides”?
First of all, let’s be objective and honest…
Snowflakes, starbursts, and wintery somethings have zero to do with Christmas. It’s like the school district which now bans Christmas cookies morphed into sleds and Santas — all inanimate icons that society associates with the holiday, but have no correlation with the day’s actual meaning. Christmas is society’s acknowledgement of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah that people waited centuries for. He proclaimed himself as the Son of God, the only true, eternal bringer of hope, peace, and truth into this world.
I think Jesus, therefore, could care less about red cups.
I think Jesus would ask us to instead focus on what’s most important.
“Quit focusing on yourselves! Quit focusing on those who irritate you! Quit focusing on lesser things!”
Ok, so that’s not veritable scripture, but I can kind of hear him say it. I can hear Jesus say that the red cups have nothing to do with him. I can hear him say that picking on the people who are mad about the cups also has nothing to do with him. We have such thin skin, friends. We keep being loud about the wrong people and things.
We’ve spoken here about loving God and loving our neighbor. We’ve spoken here about getting ants in our pants and finding reasons and ways to instead only love some people well. We’ve spoken here about ways in which we each minimize God’s hierarchy and influence in the world and foolishly find a way to put someone or something else on the proverbial throne. We’ve spoken here about things that mean far more than the so-called “lesser things.”
Christmas is not about Starbucks nor their popular new Chestnut Praline Latte nor anything fitting with society’s increasingly, creative pumpkin obsession. If we’re going to be loud about anything, my sense is it should not be for or against red paper cups. My sense is it should also not be about people shouting about red cups.
If we are going to be loud, let’s do it most by encouraging one another to find lasting hope, peace, and truth in this world.
Respectfully…
AR