Saguaro Wanderings: Seeing 2011 (#188)

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Seeing 2011 (#188)

For your consideration: an unintentionally poignant, ironic, and all-too-apropos setting for the symbol to which far more monetarily-driven consciousness is devoted vis-à-vis the profoundly spiritual message meant for our consumption.

Ever earlier the frenzied calls for material worship begins now: sickly sweet and pervasive caroling music assaults the ear beginning ere Halloween in some quarters of our Modern Society. Buy those presents!, on Sale!, be sure its not only the right gift, but better than last year's too! And if a real steal can be had via the early-bird approach, but the strategy threatened by competing shoppers — well, a little pepper spray provides the advantage!

Alas, I admit to being a curmudgeon for about the last quarter of the year: find me a clean, dry, modestly furnished hermit's cave far removed from the Christmas chaos and, in my own fashion, I'll be happy to emerge groundhog-like to see my own shadow sometime removed from New Year's.

It is sad to reflect upon just how walled off our society has become from the deeply reflective original spirit of the season; this is true regardless of one's particular religious tradition.

Pink Floyd was onto something.