Dec 18, 2014 3 min read

Does the fate of the United States economy rely principally on how much Americans buy during the Christmas season? That’s what many media commentators might lead us to believe. December retail sales might be an indicator of the health of the nation’s economy, but they’re not what drive it. Still, the rest of the world, which is not so obsessed with giving gifts, must view us with bemusement as we frantically race to exchange our money for obligatory presents.

The older we get, the more we realize how little we need. Yet, we feel obliged to purchase things for our friends and loved ones that are often unnecessary, redundant or unwanted, and to receive the same. Gifts begin to fill closets and attics. Years from now, they end up at Goodwill or the City Mission. And the cycle continues.

Has anyone not experienced the crush of Christmas shopping, the traffic, the frustration, the long lines at registers? So much energy and capital spent on the accumulation of … stuff. If only there were a way to harness all that energy and spirit of giving and direct it to a more useful purpose.

There is no shortage of useful purposes, and we are made well aware of them by the pleas from charitable organizations at this time of year, when we feel most generous and agreeable to tax-deductible donations. But the competition for our dollars is fierce, and most of the money will still be spent on … stuff.

Many organizations hold banquets in order to raise funds, but the idea of spending $100 a plate for a chicken dinner has grown somewhat cold. We were amused by one particular solicitation for a charitable cause: The Literacy Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania mailed invitations to a sort of anti-banquet – just send money and enjoy your evening at home instead. What’s the menu? Whatever you wish to cook. Cost? Whatever you think is right. “RSVP Yes to staying home,” read the invitation.

We encourage local charities to follow the example of Heifer International. For $120, you can buy your loved one a goat. Well, sort of. The goat actually goes to a family in need of one, in the name of the person you designate. Gifts range from a flock of ducks for $20 to a heifer for $500. “Giving an animal is like giving someone a small business, providing wool, milk, eggs and more,” the Heifer website states. ” Animal donations can provide families a hand up, increasing access to medicine, school, food and a sustainable livelihood.”

Washington City Mission’s requests for donations are similar, noting that for $2.26 you can provide a Christmas meal for someone in need. We think, however, that local organizations could go farther, perhaps providing recognition of a specific donation in a form that can be slipped into a Christmas stocking. Instead of giving Dad a belt sander, maybe he’d enjoy more knowing that his gift was new porch steps for an elderly homeowner, constructed by the Mending Fences program of the Highland Ridge Community Development Corp. Perhaps Mom would prefer a gift in her name of five books to the library rather than that bread-making machine.

Our excessive Christmas shopping rituals will not change unless we can alter our attitude about giving. As we are so often told, it’s not the value of the gift (or the number of them) that’s important, but rather the thought behind it.

We should spend more time on that thinking part, and less time shopping.