When is a present not a present

Well it is that time of the year when we are madly selecting gifts and preparing to give and receive same from family and friends. A recent trend and marketing ploy by many charitable groups involves giving a gift that is actually a gift to someone else. (A water well in a village, a goat, a water pump, a sponsored dolphin, etc the creativity goes on)

I have been party to such "gift" giving on many occasions both giving and receiving a "gift" for some other cause...... Very admirable and self-effacing. But let's stop and think about what is actually going on in the process of making a decision to give such a "gift"

1. There is the assumption that the recipient of the "gift" has all they need and could not possibly need a gift as much as a poor person in another part of the world. Factually this may be true. But since when did a gift giving by a Christian ever have anything to do with being in need of receiving it. Honoring is not means tested is it..... Giving a gift to someone else on your behalf is not really giving you a gift at all. No gift, no honor.
2. The person giving the gift becomes the focus of attention: At first glance this "gift" appears well thought out and considered, but it reflects the values of the person giving it, not necessarily your values. The "gift" may bear no resemblence to issues or projects you are passionate about, you get no choice about the recipient. This type of "gift" is more focused on the giver than either of the receivers.....
3. The giver is in danger of deluding themselves that such a choice is somehow removing them from the excesses, decadence and manipulative marketing of Christmas in a wealthy western country. A clear conscience, not like the rest of the greedy west. Since when did giving gifts to your friends and family become an issue of condemnation.
   

Enough already. Not sure this marketing ploy will go away anytime soon, especially whist there is a ready made pool of informed benevolent people who are able to be shamed into caring for others less fortunate when they are considering giving a gift to someone they love.........

Very clever, very effective, but maybe very wrong........