Can a TV advert teach us anything? It certainly has given me some pause for thought.
My non-consumerist Christmas bubble has been broken. Despite having built up a great resistance to TV advertising over the years I have been taken in by this year's Christmas offering from John Lewis. A telegenic seven-year-old and an astonishing £6 million budget has brought much of middle England to tears. 'The Long Wait' aims to press home the real meaning of Christmas, that it is better to give than receive. The young lad cannot wait until Christmas morning – not to receive his own presents, but because of the special, badly wrapped present that he proudly carries in for his parents. It is a tear-jerker, but also a very effective commercial project, that if nothing else has seen the sales of boys' pyjamas from John Lewis leap by an astonishing 135%.
"We are going to get Christmas adverts regardless at this time of year. They may as well be well conceived with a thoughtful message, rather than the usual demonstrations of greed and selfishness. It won't necessarily make me shop in John Lewis but it certainly made me smile," states a reader of BBC News Magazine.
There are many mixed views of Christmas both inside and outside the Adventist Church or even the wider Christian community. What I do know, and appreciate, is that at this time of year I have an opportunity to share my faith with friends and neighbours in a way that is more difficult the other eleven months. I also have the chance to remind myself of the tremendous wonder of God become man. Last Friday evening I sat in church and listened to the story of the prophecies through the Old Testament, mixed with glorious music – all pointing forward to Messiah. The fantastic thought that the God who created humankind out of dust – but in His own image – then became that dust Himself in order to give them salvation. What a fantastic Saviour.
A young adult friend of mine recently posted a comment on her Facebook profile: "God is so good. I seldom pray and don't really read the Bible or devotionals, etc. I find Him in "real" ways (ways that work for me), mainly through relationships with others. I find older people to be such a blessing, encouragement, and example as they share their life and child-rearing experiences. Anyway, I have to say that God has blessed us way more than I ever thought to ask for or that I thought was possible."
In her life, which has not always been easy, she has discovered the God who is willing to give – and she has discovered Him through the lives of God's children who, like the seven-year-old in the John Lewis advert, have also found giving love and care to be the centre of their Christian life.
