Seeing Red

Please excuse me, as I take my completely flawed and human self and claw my way up to the top of my pretentious soapbox with this post.

Is it just me, or do you also feel that people wake up in the morning, grab a bite to eat, get dressed, and then try to decide what they should be offended by that day? I mean let's be honest, there is a plethora of possible offenses just laying in wait; including, but definitely not limited to: names of NFL football teams, debates on the proper use of the word "scholarship," which gender should be allowed in which bathrooms, the woman who dared to breastfeed her baby in a restaurant, the Halloween costume a celebrity wore, etc, etc, etc....... And I usually try not to get in the middle of political, social, educational, or, well basically, any type of debate on social media, because quite frankly, I feel it is a waste of both my time and yours, but today is not that day.

You see, I keep seeing these posts and rants about people boycotting Starbucks. Why? Not because their drinks cost the equivalent of a small mortgage payment, but because their holiday cups are not "Christmasy" enough. In fact, the company has been slammed for creating a "War Against Christmas." Don't believe me? Use the almighty power of your google button and you too can see what I'm talking about.

Here are the offensive cups this year that are "waging War on Christmas" -

Now Starbucks claims that they created these cups intentionally plain to "leave interpretation open for any type of holiday celebration." People refuse to believe that though and are accusing Starbucks of taking "the Christ out of Christmas."

Now, come on guys, I really don't think we can give Starbucks the credit for that. It is a sad state of affairs that our country has commercialized Christmas to the point that apparently certain people thought the Starbucks holiday cups from years past actually represented the true meaning of Christmas? In fact, I did a little investigating because I do like to indulge occasionally in an overpriced peppermint mocha, and I can't remember one Starbucks cup that has ever represented the true meaning of Christmas?

This one had an encouraging quote about hope.....but still no mention of Christmas or Jesus....

Oh wait. 
I stand corrected.

Remember the year the Three Wise Men hiked up their robes, laced up their skates, and figure skated their way to Bethlehem? And unto them a New Olympic Sport was born...the prizes? Gold, Frankincense, and myrrh.

My bad.

Now you may be thinking I'm not offended by the plain red cup because I obviously want the overpriced peppermint mocha (I do!), or maybe you think I just don't love Jesus enough to get mad? You would be wrong. I love me some Jesus. I love him even more than a peppermint mocha. I think Jesus is the absolutely greatest, most amazing thing that has ever happened in this world. EVER. But I gotta be honest here, I don't think Jesus cares one iota about the color of a Starbucks cup. I really don't. The fact that Jesus told Martha to quit worrying about the dishes and come spend time with him (which, by the way, is a great excuse to get out of doing dishes if you ever need one.....) makes me think he would definitely not care about a red paper cup that's going to end up in the trash can at the local mall. 

But heck, if you're determined to find Jesus in a Starbucks cup, tell everyone that since the cup is "open to interpretation," it obviously represents the blood of Christ. His blood and sacrifice is THE reason he was born. Nothing is more real reason for the season than His sacrifice, so try that interpretation on for size?  If that seems too preachy and you're looking for something more subtle, grab a sharpie and draw a picture of baby Jesus crowning away in the manger on that red cup. I mean nothing says let's celebrate the birth of Jesus like a graphic picture of the birth of Jesus! Can I get an AMEN?

But in all seriousness, if you are looking for Jesus this Christmas; holy cow, please don't be looking for Him in a Starbucks cup!

If you need to be offended by something, by all means, be offended. 

Raise a raucous and wage a war! But remember that you can't care about every single wrong thing in this world, so maybe choose your cause a little more wisely.

If you're having a hard time finding a cause, here's a few to get you started that really could make a difference:

Um....how about that problem called ISIS?

or

Why not rage war against human trafficking?


or

What about all the foster care kids that age out of the system with nowhere to go? They could use some love and care.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/16/opinion/soronen-foster-children/

or

 How about the injustice of childhood cancer? A high school friend of mine lost her daughter to cancer and started a great organization called Claire's Army to help families going through every parent's worst nightmare. Please, if you want to care about something? Care about those families!
www.clairesarmy.org

or

 What about our teachers who are underpaid and no longer feel safe in the classroom? Could we care about them instead?

Those are just five causes off the top of my head. Do your research; find something you're passionate about and fight for it. And if, after doing all that, you're still passionate about boycotting Starbucks, boycott away, but do it for a cause. Why not spend that $10 you would have spent on a coffee and scone to feed someone who is really hungry? Loaves and fishes, baby. Loaves and fishes. That's Jesus right there.

Instead of waking up each morning trying to find a new offense, let's go on the defense. Let's start each morning figuring out how we can show the world our Savior.

Stop criticizing a flawed world for not being the Jesus you want them to be and focus on being Him to a flawed world.

Okay that's enough preaching for now.
I'm off to Starbucks.
Peppermint Mocha Anyone?
Sharpie's Not Provided.